David Durden isn’t a name most casual fans are familiar. The West Florida receiver signed on with Dallas a year ago after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft.
At the time of the signing, the hype was real. Durden was known by many as “Prospect X” prior to the draft. Initially identified anonymously by Kalyn Kahler at The Athletic, Durden embodied the dark horse candidate as a draft prospect. He was Kahler’s most overlooked prospect of the 2023 class.
He wasn’t invited to the Senior Bowl or the combine in Indianapolis. Not surprisingly he went undrafted, adding validity to his “overlooked” label bestowed on him by The Athletic. Despite the lack of acclaim, he quietly possessed all the tools and traits of a legit NFL receiver. The 6-foot-1 204-pound WR had size and 4.4 speed on his side.
Furthering his cause was his ability to play all three WR spots and his impact on special teams. Versatility and special teams play are paramount for a bottom of the roster WR and somewhere Durden holds a clear advantage over his competition on the Cowboys roster.
An ACL injury suffered late in training camp ended his bid to make the roster as a rookie. It indefinitely paused the hype train he was leading in 2023 and forced him into the shadows as he worked on his recovery.
Slated to be a full participant in the 2024 training camp, the hype is building for the young Durden once again. The Cowboys have opportunities there for the taking this season. Michael Gallup is no longer on the roster and his replacement has yet to be determined. Former third-round draft pick Jalen Tolbert has the inside track, but the issue is far from settled.
Players like Jalen Brooks (2023 seventh-round pick) and Kavontae Turpin (Pro Bowl return man) are going to plead their case for the WR3 role while Jalen Moreno-Cropper (2023 UDFA) and Ryan Flournoy (2024 sixth-round pick) all seemingly have an inside track on deep roster spots. Climbing into a top-six role won’t be easy for Durden, but it’s far from being out of reach.
A case can be made Durden is both a safe pick and simultaneously a high-reward pick. His measurables sell his ceiling but his maturity, versatility and experience give him a relatively solid floor. Assuming he’s recovered from his offseason knee surgery, Durden should be the mix for Dallas’ WR competition. He’s a dark horse no one should sleep on because he has all the quality of an ideal bottom-of-the-roster WR prospect.
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