As the Cowboys continue to bolster their roster heading into year one of the Brian Schottenheimer era, COO and co-owner Stephen Jones says the team is looking to add an explosive second option behind CeeDee Lamb at the wide receiver position.
“We’re still open to looking at a really explosive number two that could upgrade us,” Jones said. “But as I said, I like our room and certainly like the players we currently have.”
As it stands, the only external addition the Cowboys have made thus far at the position this offseason has been the signing of Parris Campbell, who certainly brings the explosive element to the room from a speed standpoint but only has 134 receiving yards over the last two seasons.
The team also lost veteran Brandin Cooks, who had served in that role previously when healthy and signed with the New Orleans Saints this offseason, returning to the team that drafted him.
And so even with those moves, Jones is laying everything out on the table as a possibility for the Cowboys. That means free agency, a trade and the draft are all places where the Cowboys can feasibly add a wide receiver and that seems to be the teams intent.
In terms of free agents that are still on the market, some big names like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen are available, but don’t really fit the “explosive” criteria that Jones mentioned. Is there another free agent like Elijah Moore or D.J. Chark, who are known for their speed, that Dallas could feel good about trusting in that spot?
We’ll see, but the Cowboys have added at receiver via trade in recent history. They acquired Cooks for two draft picks in 2023 and Jonathan Mingo last season for a fourth-round pick, someone that Jones and the team are still high on.
“I think him having a full offseason to work with Dak, and as I said we really liked him when he came out of Ole Miss, and really feel like he’s got a lot of upside.” Jones said of Mingo.
Mingo, who turns 24 next month, is one of the many younger wideouts that the Cowboys have on their roster who has a high ceiling, and he’s not the only one that’s stood out to Jones.
“Certainly like our young guys, [Ryan] Flournoy and that group, obviously Turpin brings a little something to the mix there in terms of his juice and explosion, I really like our room.” Jones said.
And so, the mixture is slowing coming together for Dallas. CeeDee Lamb is the star that can serve as WR1 for the foreseeable future, Turpin can change the game with the ball in his hands, younger guys like Flournoy, Mingo, Jalen Tolbert, and Jalen Brooks have room to grow. Now, the missing ingredient is that second option that can elevate the Cowboys offense towards the top of the league again.
