Dallas Cowboys Face Tough Decision on Former 3rd-Round Pick Jalen Tolbert After Disappointing 2025 Season

Dallas, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2025 NFL season with championship aspirations, but what followed was a campaign defined by inconsistency, defensive breakdowns, and missed opportunities. Finishing with a 7-9-1 record, the Cowboys failed to qualify for the postseason, marking yet another frustrating year for a franchise desperate to return to Super Bowl relevance.

While the defense drew the bulk of the criticism — often appearing unprepared and overwhelmed — the offense quietly delivered one of its more productive seasons in recent memory. In fact, several key additions and player breakouts helped establish the Cowboys as one of the more explosive offensive units in the league. However, progress for some players inevitably came at the expense of others.

As Dallas looks ahead to the 2026 offseason, one name appears increasingly likely to be on the outside looking in: former third-round wide receiver Jalen Tolbert.

Offensive Bright Spots Defined the 2025 Cowboys

Despite the disappointing final record, the Cowboys’ offense was far from the problem. Quarterback Dak Prescott, after battling injuries throughout the 2024 season, returned to elite form in 2025. He displayed sharp decision-making, improved pocket presence, and the leadership expected of a franchise quarterback.

One of the biggest catalysts for Prescott’s resurgence was the addition of wide receiver George Pickens, acquired via trade. Pickens instantly transformed the Cowboys’ passing attack, forming a devastating one-two punch with CeeDee Lamb. Together, the duo became one of the most feared receiving tandems in the NFL, consistently stretching defenses vertically and dominating one-on-one matchups.

Adding to the offensive success was Ryan Flournoy, who emerged as one of the league’s most productive WR3 options. His breakout season — highlighted by 40 receptions for 475 yards and two 100-yard performances — provided Dallas with consistent secondary production that had been missing in previous years.

Tight end Jake Ferguson also returned to form, reestablishing himself as a reliable target in both the red zone and intermediate passing game. Meanwhile, free-agent running back Javonte Williams delivered the Cowboys’ most effective rushing season since Ezekiel Elliott’s prime in 2019, giving the offense balance and physicality.

Collectively, these performances elevated Dallas into the conversation as one of the league’s most explosive offenses — even as the defense struggled to hold its end of the bargain.

A Crowded Receiver Room Leaves Little Margin for Error

With offensive success came difficult roster realities. The Cowboys now appear set with a four-man receiving core: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, and dynamic gadget specialist KaVontae Turpin. That group alone consumes a significant portion of snaps, targets, and roster value.

NFL teams typically carry five wide receivers on the active roster, sometimes six. But with Dallas already heavy at the position — and facing cap considerations — competition for the final spots will be fierce. That reality puts several players on the bubble, including Jonathan Mingo, futures-contract signee Parris Campbell, and most notably, Jalen Tolbert.

Jalen Tolbert’s Opportunity Never Fully Arrived

Selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of South Alabama, Tolbert entered the league with expectations of becoming a long-term contributor. Over the years, he was frequently discussed as a potential breakout candidate — a player whose athletic traits and size hinted at untapped upside.

That breakout, however, never truly materialized.

In the 2025 season, Tolbert recorded just 18 receptions for 203 yards, a modest output that placed him firmly behind Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy, and Turpin in the pecking order. His limited role reflected both the rise of others and his inability to separate himself when opportunities arose.

According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Tolbert’s future with the Cowboys is increasingly uncertain. In previewing Dallas’ offensive outlook for 2026, Machota suggested that Tolbert is effectively “out,” assuming the Cowboys manage to retain Pickens, who is set to hit free agency.

“Flournoy is entering the final year of his rookie contract,” Machota wrote. “He had a breakout season in 2025, making it easier for the Cowboys to move on from Tolbert and possibly Mingo, who has a year left on his rookie deal.”

For Dallas, Flournoy’s emergence changed the calculus entirely. Younger, more productive, and on a rookie contract, he provides better value and upside than Tolbert at this stage.

Offensive Continuity Expected in 2026

Despite the likely changes at the bottom of the depth chart, the Cowboys are not expected to overhaul their offense this offseason. Prescott will return as the unquestioned starter, and even given Dallas’ conservative history in free agency, re-signing George Pickens and Javonte Williams is widely viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury.

The offensive line could undergo some internal reconfiguration, but the core unit is expected back intact. That stability bodes well for Prescott and reinforces the belief that the offense is capable of competing at a high level — provided the defense improves.

Prescott himself made that point clear following the conclusion of the 2025 season, offering one of the more candid assessments of his career.

“Tough season. Frustrating in a sense,” Prescott said. “One of the first seasons, if not the first of my career, I can’t directly correlate my play to the wins and losses or the overall success of the season.”

He didn’t shy away from defending the offense.

“One of the best offenses in the league, explosive,” Prescott continued. “Not always to our standard, sure, but we put up a lot of points. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the games we should’ve and didn’t finish some one-score games.”

What’s Next for Tolbert?

For Jalen Tolbert, the writing may be on the wall in Dallas. Whether through release, trade, or a change of scenery elsewhere, his path with the Cowboys appears limited. That doesn’t mean his NFL career is over — opportunity and fit often define a receiver’s success — but his time in Dallas may be nearing its end.

As the Cowboys pivot toward 2026, their offensive identity is clear. The challenge now lies in complementing that firepower with a defense capable of keeping pace. And in the process, tough decisions like moving on from former high draft picks may be unavoidable.

In a league driven by results, potential only matters until production replaces it.