Training Camp Preview
Training camp is a place of optimism for fans. Teams are undefeated, and hopes are high for the season. For players, some are getting ready for the football season, and others are fighting each day to stick around. Here is what I am watching from every position group, diving into the wide receivers.
Wide Receiver Overview
Battle to Watch:
Is Ryan Flournoy the lock as WR3?
Biggest Question:
How will George Pickens be utilized?
Player Under the Most Pressure:
Kavontae Turpin
Sleeper to Watch:
Anthony Smith
Ceedee Lamb #88
Camp Storyline: Can Lamb Get Back to 100%?
Where He Stands
Ceedee Lamb fought an ankle injury early in the season but still managed to achieve a Pro Bowl season with over 1,000 receiving yards. With teammate George Pickens breaking out for 1,429 yards last season, several media members suggested that Pickens may be the better receiver. Which may have been more of a stretch.
The receiving duo still claims their 1a-1b designation. Lamb was recently voted as the 6th best WR in the NFL by an ESPN survey of NFL executives. Ceedee Lamb has shined as the more shifty player, with his best ability coming after the catch.
Lamb is about as safe of a roster lock as you can get. As Lamb gets back into rhythm with Dak Prescott, there were some issues with drops in the Week 1 game against Philly. Will those issues continue?
53-Man Outlook
★★★★★ – Roster lock
George Pickens #3
Camp Storyline: How Much Participation Will Pickens Have?
Where He Stands
George Pickens was acquired by Dallas via a trade with Pittsburgh. Pickens blossomed into an elite option, logging career highs with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns. With CeeDee Lamb hampered by an early-season ankle injury, Pickens carried the passing game, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl.
The contract talks started immediately following the season. The Cowboys stood firm on the decision to not extend Pickens yet; he was franchise tagged, which guarantees a one-year contract for $27.3 million. This hasn’t been a big distraction, but the Cowboys have been burned in the past by contract negotiations in camp.
Pickens will be a roster lock, but the question is how much will he be around? Pickens told the media he will be a part of training camp. He will be worked up to full speed and get into rhythm with Dak. If he doesn’t show up to practices, he will be fined.
53-Man Outlook
★★★★★ – Roster lock
Ryan Flournoy #19
Camp Storyline: Did Flournoy Win WR3?
Where He Stands
Ryan Flournoy has emerged as one of the successful late-round draft stories. A 6th-round selection out of Southeast Missouri State in 2024. He has slowly grown his role each year from special teams to stepping up the workload during the season.
In Week 5 with Lamb sidelined, he logged 114 receiving yards. Later in Week 14 against the Detroit Lions, he notched career highs with 9 catches on 12 targets for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Flournoy got work as the starting #1 receiver during voluntary OTAs this season when Lamb and Pickens were out of some practices. It is safe to imagine continued success will secure the WR3 job for Flo.
53-Man Outlook
★★★★★ – Roster lock
KaVontae Turpin #9
Camp Storyline: Will Turpin Be More Than a Returner?
Where He Stands
KaVontae Turpin has been the kickoff and punt return specialist for the Cowboys over the past few seasons. At only 5’9″, Turpin lights up the field by being a speedster with a sporadic ability to steer and turn his running lanes. Although he caught Dak’s first and last TD pass this past year, Turpin has been limited on offensive impact as a receiver.
Overall, his targets have dropped, and Turpin has not been a traditional receiver. He will get some offensive reps in more gadget and rushing situations. Due to the defensive unit giving up more scores, Turpin logged a staggering league-high 1,814 kickoff return yards.
It’s safe to say that Turpin will still be a lock to be the returner. But rookie Anthony Smith could be on a path to take the returning job, and Smith may be more impactful in the receiving game. Time could be running out for Turpin.
53-Man Outlook
★★★★★ – Roster lock
Anthony Smith #83
Camp Storyline: Can Smith Light Up Preseason?
Where He Stands
Anthony Smith enters his rookie training camp with an opportunity to immediately carve out a role in Dallas’ offense. His speed and versatility make him an intriguing developmental receiver, but his quickest path to the 53-man roster may come on special teams.
With KaVontae Turpin entering another season as the primary return specialist, Smith could begin challenging for those opportunities if he impresses during camp and the preseason. The Cowboys may also look for creative ways to get the rookie involved offensively, making him one of the more interesting players to watch throughout August.
Given the edge that drafted players usually have when it comes to making the Cowboys. I think it’s very realistic to see Smith on this 53-man roster. Though if the Cowboys want to take the gamble, they will try to sneak him onto the practice squad.
53-Man Outlook
★★★★☆ – Likely makes the team
Jonathan Mingo #81
Camp Storyline: Is Mingo’s Time Up?
Where He Stands
Jonathan Mingo arrived in Dallas looking for a fresh start after an inconsistent beginning to his NFL career. The Cowboys traded a 4th-round pick for the former second-rounder because of high regard from his draft year, but those physical tools have yet to consistently translate into production.
He has never caught a pass from Dak Prescott and has not made the necessary moves to get onto the active game-day roster. The Cowboys continue to bring in other receivers to do the job Mingo was supposed to do.
I wanted to name Mingo as my player under the most pressure, but there’s a chance that he may have run out of chances already. Has the ship sailed?
53-Man Outlook
★★★☆☆ – On the bubble
Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11
Camp Storyline: Will MVS Be A Needed Veteran?
Where He Stands
Marquez Valdes-Scantling brings the most experience of any receiver competing for the final roster spots. Throughout his career, he has made a living stretching defenses vertically, but consistency has often been the biggest question surrounding his game.
Dallas doesn’t necessarily need him to become a featured receiver. Instead, he’ll have to prove he can still provide a reliable veteran presence while outperforming several younger receivers competing for the same roster spot.
There is a chance that MVS can sneak onto the end of this receiver room, or at least be kept around for a practice squad role. Depending on how his camp goes, he could become a security veteran to stick around.
53-Man Outlook
★★★☆☆ – On the bubble
Traeshon Holden #80
Camp Storyline: Does Holden Have A Legit Chance, Or Just A Fan Favorite?
Where He Stands
Traeshon Holden became one of the more talked-about receivers among Cowboys fans after a strong showing during last year’s training camp. The former Alabama and Oregon receiver flashed enough potential to earn a spot on the practice squad, and Dallas quickly brought him back on a reserve/future contract after the season.
Holden has good size at 6-foot-2 and has played in several high-profile college offenses, but the biggest challenge has been turning those flashes into consistent production. Unlike some of the veterans competing with him, Holden still offers developmental upside, something the Cowboys have valued in recent years.
Making the 53-man roster will still be difficult, Holden has a realistic shot at earning another practice squad spot and potentially becoming one of the first call-ups if injuries arise during the season.
53-Man Outlook
★☆☆☆☆ – Practice Squad candidate
Tyler Johnson #15
Camp Storyline: Is Johnson More Than Camp Hands?
Where He Stands
Tyler Johnson has been an NFL journey man, and was added as a veteran set of hands. He was a rotational receiver for the Jets, Rams, Texans and Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Johnson has shown throughout his career that he can contribute when called upon, but this receiver room is much deeper than previous stops. Unless injuries create an opening, Johnson likely finds himself battling for a practice squad role rather than a spot on the initial 53-man roster. He’ll need to consistently outperform younger players if he wants to change that outlook.
Where He Stands
☆☆☆☆☆ – Outside looking in
Jaden Smith #17
Camp Storyline: Can Smith Be Noticed By Coaches?
Where He Stands
Jaden Smith was a UDFA with Tampa Bay and this summer signed with the Cowboys. He played college football at Nevada. Standing 6-foot-6, Smith immediately stands out as one of the biggest receivers on Dallas’ roster. While he hasn’t received much attention outside of training camp, his size and catch radius give the Cowboys an intriguing developmental prospect as they continue searching for depth at wide receiver.
Smith enters camp behind several receivers with either draft pedigree or previous NFL production. That means his path isn’t necessarily clean. Special teams help could keep Smith around. While making the 53-man roster would require a surprising camp, strong preseason performances could put Smith on the Cowboys’ radar for future roster moves or another developmental opportunity.
53-Man Outlook
☆☆☆☆☆ – Outside looking in
Camden Brown #6
Camp Storyline: Will Brown Be On A Futures Deal?
Where He Stands
Camden Brown signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent following his collegiate career at Georgia Southern. Before transferring, Brown spent three seasons at Auburn where he flashed his potential as a big-bodied outside receiver. At 6-foot-2 and more than 200 pounds, Brown has the physical build NFL teams look for, but he’ll need to prove he can consistently translate those traits against professional competition.
His best chance will come by consistently making plays during preseason games while contributing on special teams. The receiver room requires depth in training camp, and not a lot of players make it through half the camp. But Brown can keep his name memroable for future deals.
53-Man Outlook
☆☆☆☆☆ – Outside looking in
Jordan Hudson #18
Camp Storyline: Can Hudson Be A Sneaky UDFA?
Where He Stands
Jordan Hudson arrives in Dallas as one of the more accomplished undrafted free agents in this rookie class. A Garland native, Hudson began his collegiate career at TCU before transferring across the Metroplex to SMU. During his final season with the Mustangs, he emerged as their top receiving threat, finishing with 61 receptions for 766 yards and six touchdowns.
Despite going undrafted, many Cowboys fans have viewed Hudson as one of the more intriguing developmental additions, and point toward several UDFA success stories. The competition will be difficult, but Hudson has an opportunity to make a name for himself throughout camp. If he consistently creates separation and proves dependable,
53-Man Outlook
☆☆☆☆☆ – Outside looking in
Denzel Mims #84
Camp Storyline: Is This Mims Last Chance?
Where He Stands
Denzel Mims arrives in Dallas with one of the most unique resumes in the Cowboys’ receiver room. A former second-round pick out of Baylor in the 2020 NFL Draft, Mims entered the league after a standout college career that included more than 2,900 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. At 6-foot-3 with 4.38 speed, he possessed all the physical tools to become a true outside threat, but his career never took off with the Jets. Since then, he’s spent time with the Lions, Steelers and Jaguars before continuing his football journey in the UFL, where he worked his way back onto an NFL roster with the Cowboys.
For Mims, this training camp is about proving he still belongs in the NFL. The Cowboys already have established stars in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, along with several younger receivers competing for developmental roles. That means Mims must separate himself with consistent practices, make the most of every preseason opportunity, and show he can contribute beyond simply stretching the field.
53-Man Outlook
☆☆☆☆☆ – Outside looking in
My Projection
Depth Chart
- Ceedee Lamb #88
- George Pickens #3
- Ryan Flournoy #19
- KaVontae Turpin #9
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11
- Anthony Smith #83
Practice Squad
- Traeshon Holden #80
- Jaden Smith #17
- Jordan Hudson #18
Misses the Cut
- Jonathan Mingo #81
- Tyler Johnson #15
- Camden Brown #6
- Denzel Mims #84
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