The NFL draft and undrafted free agency wave helped the Dallas Cowboys add a couple receivers, but they still have room to add a seasoned wide out.
NFL pass-catcher and native of Dallas, Zay Jones, is back on the market following two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Following the Jaguars’ selection of Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of this year’s draft, Jones was released this week. For author of Blogging the Boys, David Howman, signing Jones makes a lot of sense.
In addition to Lamb and Cooks, the Cowboys could certainly use a seasoned receiver, at least in the event that Jalen Tolbert doesn’t advance further in his development this offseason. On May 1, Howman wrote,
“Jones represents a seasoned presence with demonstrated ability as a third receiving option, and his market could fit into the Cowboys’ financial plans.”
It’s important to note that Jones is the son of Robert Jones, a former Cowboys first-round selection. Zay, Robert’s son, is still chasing his first Super Bowl victory, despite his father having three with Dallas.
Jones won’t change the course of the game, but Dallas may fare worse than him. Nevertheless, his performance in a supporting capacity with Jacksonville is encouraging for a comparable position with Dallas.
Jones was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, marking his NFL debut. Even though he had a strong 2018 season, the fact that he was traded halfway through the 2019 campaign says it everything about his time in Buffalo.
At first glance, the Las Vegas Raiders’ trade of Jones for a fifth-round pick appeared to be a bad one. Jones had just 34 receptions for 301 yards and one touchdown in his first 26 games in 2019 and 2020.
But as Pro Football Reference demonstrates, in 2021 the 29-year-old discovered his calling. With 47 receptions, Jones gained 546 receiving yards and one score. But when Jones’ contract expired the next offseason, there was no return for him, even if his output increased.
After acquiring him, the Jaguars noticed results right away. Jones caught 82 catches for 823 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2022, which was his finest season to date. Jones only played in 9 games in 2023 due to injuries, but he still managed to score 2 touchdowns and 321 yards on 34 catches.
This year, Dallas selected just one wide receiver (Ryan Flournoy) in the draft. SE Missouri State prospect Flournoy was selected in the sixth round. Despite not being well-known outside of the football community, Flournoy was a crucial member of the Redhawks.
During his two years at SEMO, Flournoy amassed 1823 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. At 6’2″ and 200 pounds, he is the perfect size to play in the NFL.
However, Flournoy is not the only new receiver joining the group; their UDFA class included two other additions. Additionally, the Cowboys signed Corey Crooms from Minnesota and Cam Johnson from Northwestern. Both wide receivers followed comparable routes to the NFL, attending a single university for the bulk of their college careers before transferring later to strengthen their resumes.
Johnson’s main weapon is his lateral quickness; he just finished a season with 54 receptions, 715 yards, and 6 touchdowns. Although Crooms has steady hands, he did not play a significant role for Minnesota in 2023 despite having 28 receptions for 376 yards.
Journalist Evan Reier covers the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys for Heavy.com. In the past, he worked as a managing editor for Outsider and covered sports for the Montana Standard.Additional information on Evan Reier
