Which Cowboys teams do you see having successful seasons in 2024?
Considering the future is a task that is never too early. When they get ready for the NFL scouting combine this week, the Dallas Cowboys are the ones who are most aware of that. The best players in this year’s draft class will receive most of the attention, but the Cowboys have a way of finding the underappreciated players at this point in the summer. How many times have the Cowboys made waves by choosing a draft prospect who many thought was considerably less good before turning everyone around? Tyler Smith, Travis Frederick, or anyone else?
The Cowboys are adept at identifying the players who can make significant contributions when no one else anticipates them and who can jump in at the appropriate moment. A few guys on the Cowboys roster have the potential to shock everyone and contribute significantly in the next few seasons. These are the 2024 breakthrough prospects.
Tolbert, Jalen, wide receiver
Jalen Tolbert’s NFL career had a difficult beginning. Although there was once optimism that Tolbert could contribute right away to the Cowboys’ offence, his rookie campaign wasn’t the best. Rather than being renowned for huge plays, Tolbert’s first NFL season was more noted for expensive penalties. In his second season, Tolbert showed some improvement, gaining a respectable 268 yards on 22 receptions and two touchdowns. Given the opportunity he should get in 2024, Tolbert has a chance to succeed, as you can see with the other players on this list. Michael Gallup had 34 receptions for 418 yards in the previous season. While Gallup is expected to have a $13.8M cap charge this season compared to Tolbert’s $1.1M, that’s still not much better than Tolbert.
The difference in production between the two players at this point in their careers is almost insignificant. There are few salary cap casualties as obvious as Gallup, and Tolbert should have much more on his plate as a result. Already, Tolbert has reduced Gallup’s playing time; he now plays about 40% of the team’s offensive snaps compared to 51% for Gallup. It’s possible that the Cowboys will select a wide receiver in the first three rounds of the draft, perhaps Xavier Legette or Johnny Wilson. Tolbert is ready for a big year with Prescott in year two of a redesigned passing attack, though, assuming they are happy with his growth to go with the group of CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks.
Brock Hoffman, IOL
Brock Hoffman has had to put in a lot of effort to get the coaching staff’s respect. After making his way onto the active roster in September of last year, Hoffman joined the Cowboys practice squad in 2022. At 6’4″ and 322 pounds, Hoffman is a large, robust athlete who plays with a nasty streak to complete blocks. His effort against Washington in the season finale gave the Cowboys’ ailing running game a glimpse of what he could become in the future. Hoffman is a versatile enough centre to play. Tyler Biadasz, the team’s starting centre right now, is a free agent and may leave for better opportunities when the market opens. As things stand out, the Cowboys sign a bridge player to play centre, meaning Hoffman will either have to fight with them for the starting position or they will be able to select a centre with a late-round draft pick, much like they did with Biadasz.
Hoffman is playing for the Cowboys at a salary of $985,000 this season, and if they are pleased with him, they will have the sole right to sign him as a free agent in 2025. Hoffman would be a huge financial asset and give the Cowboys a tonne of financial flexibility in the near future if he could play at a starting level. A breakaway by Hoffman might cause a stir inside the offensive line.
Juanyeh Thomas, Safety
Similar to Hoffman, Juanyeh Thomas entered the league as an undrafted player and has now played his way onto the active squad. Thomas was a player who really came into his own during the summer, making smart plays and being in the right position at the right time for those who watched the squad closely during training camp the previous season. Throughout training camp, Thomas demonstrated a solid grasp of route combinations and the ability to read the quarterback’s eyes when playing zone coverage. He made the most of his special team contributions during the season, blocking a kick that was returned for a score in the season opener against the New York Giants.
Thomas is a guy full of promise as far as the defence is concerned. At 6’3″ and 217 pounds, he is a great size and has the physical attributes to make an impact close to the line of scrimmage. If safety Jayron Kearse is not re-signed by the Cowboys, Thomas will have the chance to establish a more regular position in the defence under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. If Thomas had a good offseason once more, he might succeed.
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