Cowboys Free Agent Spotlight: Jalen Tolbert’s Rollercoaster Ride Nears Its End in Dallas
As the Cowboys prepare for a busy offseason with 22 players set to hit the open market, the front office has some tough calls to make - but when it comes to wide receiver Jalen Tolbert, the decision might be one of the most straightforward on the board.
Let’s rewind a bit. Tolbert, a third-round pick back in 2022, came into the league with plenty of intrigue.
Big-play potential, smooth route-running, and flashes of explosiveness at South Alabama made him a name to watch in Dallas. But like so many promising prospects, translating that college success to the pro level proved to be a taller task than expected.
In 2024, it looked like Tolbert might be turning a corner. He posted career-highs across the board - 49 catches, 610 yards, 7 touchdowns - and carved out a meaningful role in the Cowboys’ passing attack.
He wasn’t a top option, but he was a solid contributor, the kind of WR3 who could make a quarterback’s life easier when the top two targets were covered. Heading into 2025, there was real optimism that Tolbert could build on that momentum.
Then came George Pickens.
The Cowboys’ acquisition of the former Steelers wideout added firepower to the offense, but it also added competition. And while some expected Tolbert to lock down the third receiver spot, the reality played out much differently.
Tolbert’s 2025 season started with a glimmer of hope - 10 catches for 101 yards in the first four games - but after that, the wheels came off. Over the rest of the season, he managed just eight more receptions and one touchdown.
His snap count dwindled. His role evaporated.
And by the final stretch of the regular season, he wasn’t just falling down the depth chart - he was falling off it entirely.
Inactive for four of the Cowboys’ final six games, Tolbert saw Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, and even Jonathan Mingo leapfrog him. It was a stunning fall for a player who, just a year earlier, had looked like a potential long-term piece in the Dallas offense.
Now, Tolbert enters free agency at a crossroads. He’s 26 - still young enough to intrigue teams looking for a reclamation project - but after a season where he couldn’t hold onto a roster spot, his market value has taken a serious hit.
There’s a good chance he lands a one-year deal somewhere, likely in the $2M to $2.5M range. That’s the going rate for receivers trying to reestablish themselves - think Elijah Moore, Tim Patrick, Tylan Wallace, or Robert Woods last offseason.
Teams like the Jets or Raiders, who are in rebuild mode and have thin receiving corps, could take a flier on him. At this point, he’s a low-risk, medium-reward signing - a depth piece with some upside if the right system and opportunity come along.
As for Dallas? It’s hard to see a reunion happening.
Of the Cowboys’ 22 pending free agents, moving on from Tolbert might be the easiest call. The team gave him four seasons, multiple chances, and a clear runway to earn a role.
He flashed, sure - but never consistently, and never when it mattered most.
Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. The Cowboys swung on Tolbert in the third round, hoping they’d found a hidden gem.
Instead, they got a player who never quite put it all together. Now, both sides get a fresh start.
For Tolbert, the next chapter is about proving he still belongs in this league. The tools are there - but time is running out to turn potential into production.