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Jalen Tolbert #1 of the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have one huge question to answer at wide receiver — what’s going to happen with NFL All-Pro George Pickens after placing the franchise tag on him for 2026 as they try to work out a long-term contract.
Behind Pickens, the Cowboys now have a little less depth after one of their key role players has chosen to leave in free agency.
“Sources: Former Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert is signing with the Dolphins on a 1-year deal,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account on Friday. “Tolbert is close with Malik Willis, who was his QB at the Senior Bowl when they were entering the league. The versatile WR had over 1,000 receiving yards and 10 TDs with Dallas over four seasons … Jalen Tolbert was selective in free agency if he was going to sign a 1-year deal, and his relationship with Malik Willis was a big factor in joining Miami. He’s a red zone threat with good size and now gets a strong opportunity with the Dolphins’ current WR depth chart.”
Tolbert, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, had career highs across the board in 2024 with 49 receptions for 610 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2024. Playing behind Pickens and CeeDee Lamb in 2025 — along with missing 4 games — Tolbert’s numbers dipped to 18 receptions for 203 yards and 1 touchdown in 2025.
In his 1st 4 seasons, Tolbert has 10 touchdown receptions.
Jalen Tolbert Couldn’t Hold WR3 Spot
Tolbert was firmly entrenched at the WR3 spot behind Pickens and Lamb, but saw himself surpassed by a breakout season from 2nd year wide receiver Ryan Flournoy, who had career highs of 40 receptions for 475 yards and 4 touchdowns .
That being understood, losing Tolbert to free agency was hardly a surprise.
From RotoWire on January 12: “After a career-best campaign in 2024, Tolbert headed into the season third on the depth chart at wide receiver for the Cowboys behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The 2022 third-round pick fell out of favor after the first month of the season, however, and he was passed in the pecking order for snaps and targets by Ryan Flournoy. Tolbert is a free agent this offseason, and even with Pickens not guaranteed to return, it seems unlikely he’ll be re-signed by Dallas.”
Viewed as Trade Asset Before 2025 Season
With 20/20 hindsight, the Cowboys probably wish they had traded Tolbert when his value was highest.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine actually called Tolbert the “top trade asset” for the Cowboys headed into 2025.
“The Cowboys finally made the kind of splashy move that fans have clamored for when they traded for George Pickens,” Ballentine wrote in May 2025. “Bringing in the young receiver finally gives CeeDee Lamb an intriguing sidekick, but it doesn’t leave Dallas without questions.”
Tolbert was a 3round pick (No. 88 overall) by the Cowboys in the 2022 NFL draft out of South Alabama. He had 146 receptions for 2,559 yards and 16 touchdowns over his final 2 college seasons and was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.
Tolbert solidified his draft stock by running the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.41 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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