‘The Jalens’ leading WR race early in Cowboys camp

Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and Jalen Moreno-Cropper are separating from the pack in Cowboys camp. | From @ReidDHanson

Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and Jalen Moreno-Cropper have been standout performers early in Cowboys camp. It’s clear the three young receivers have eagerly taken on the challenge laid before them this summer. They’ve stepped up into the void Dallas had at the WR position and showed concerns are best placed elsewhere on the roster.

There have been tales of Tolbert’s maturation at the position for months. But with only 22 receptions for 268 yards of production on the record, many fans have taken on a “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitude to the former third-round pick.

Tolbert’s skillset and draft status make him the early favorite to claim the coveted WR3 role in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound product of South Alabama has deep-ball speed and juice to be a run after the catch weapon. After a year of the yips as a rookie, Tolbert came on strong in his second year, effectively splitting snaps with Michael Gallup late in the season.

Joining Tolbert in the highlight reels has been Brooks, the Cowboys seventh-round pick from 2023. Brooks has been every bit as impressive as Tolbert without overlapping in too many ways. If Tolbert has the juice, it’s Brooks who has the attitude.

At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, the South Carolina product is a fearless player who plays bigger than his size. After already establishing himself as a solid special teams contributor in his rookie season, Brooks looks eager to snag a bigger role on offense in Year 2.

Brooks has been quick off the snap and strong in his breaks. His ability to run block and win slant routes stands out among his peers and could win a steady role on the Cowboys in 2024.

Rounding out this Jalen-fest is second year man Moreno-Cropper. A training camp standout in 2023, Moreno-Cropper is hoping to build on his rookie effort and turn it into a permanent spot on the active roster.

At just 6-foot, 172-pounds, Moreno-Cropper is the smallest of the Jalens but by no means should be taken for granted in this battle. He’s been a model of stability at WR and is fully in the mix for a top-six role on the depth chart.

The Cowboys are actively looking for ways to give him work and even using him on punt return duties alongside David Durden, KaVontae Turpin and Deuce Vaughn.

For full transparency, Mike Zimmer and his secondary are deserving of the most praise in these unpadded portions of camp. They’ve rolled out coverage looks that have largely been foreign throughout the previous Dan Quinn era.

But the WR battlers deserves its recognition as well. No one knew exactly what to expect from this unproven bunch of pass-catchers and it was prompting some concern of late. Luckily for everyone, the Jalens are on the case, working together to form a cohesive and complementary trio at the WR position.

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