The Dallas Cowboys answered a horrible 2020 season with an NFC East title team in Mike McCarthy’s second year as head coach. It helps when the club’s most important player returns to lead the way, but quarterback Dak Prescott wasn’t the only reason the Cowboys doubled their win total from the prior season and made the postseason for the first time since 2018.
There were contributions from second-year players who made the jump from their rookie seasons to becoming more impact players. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and cornerback Trevon Diggs had the biggest improvements and led the way for the sophomore draft class, but tackle Terence Steele, center Tyler Biadasz and Neville Gallimore were also strong contributors.
In the NFL, there’s a belief that players making their biggest improvements from Year 1 to Year 2, referred to as ‘the jump.’ With a full offseason and their learning curve from their rookie years behind them, it’s natural to get better after acclimating to the professional football.
Here are five candidates (and a bonus) for the Cowboys who are poised to make the leap in their second seasons (aside from linebacker Micah Parsons, who’s already a star):