In the immortal words of the big 20Th Philosopher of the century Cinderella: “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” For a year and with some changes, the Cowboys enjoyed the presence of experienced receiver Brandin Cooks in their offense. Despite missing some initial expectations, the 31-year-old pass catcher has been a steady presence and legitimate option as a WR2 during this time.
Over the last seven games, the Cowboys have gotten a taste of what life is like without a true No. 2 WR on their roster. forcing Jalen Tolbert to move up the depth chart and cede his own vacated No. 3 role to a revolving door of unproven personnel. Not only was Tolbert clearly fighting above his weight class, but no one behind him proved he was ready to step forward and fill the void.
Cooks' return in Week 13 against the Giants showed how important a true WR2 really is on this team. Three receptions for 16 yards doesn't sound like much, but if one of those balls was a touchdown and the other was a perfectly executed third-down conversion that took the game to the ice, the actual value he added was significant.
In a revelation that is more about the role of WR2 than the actual WR2 himself, Cooks' return shows that it is extremely important for the Cowboys' offense to find a true No. 2 pass catcher this offseason. The Cowboys were able to overcome CeeDee Lamb's poor performance on Thursday by having Cooks on the field. The Cooks' veteran presence, combined with KaVonate Turpin's increased effort and Tolbert's key plays, saved the Cowboys' passing game on Thanksgiving Day. It was a trickle-down effect that allowed everyone to play with themselves.
Cooks himself is scheduled to become a free agent this winter and is expected to leave. Finding someone at least as good, preferably better, has to be a key goal for the Cowboys front office. A free agent class that includes Tee Higgins, Stephon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnson likely falls outside of Dallas' budget.
If the Cowboys want to properly address the WR2 position, it will likely require a top-50 draft pick. Luckily for Dallas, this is a solid WR draft class in 2025. It would be nice to take elite talent like Travis Hunter or Tetairoa McMillan at the top of the first round, but if the Cowboys finish outside the top 10, they have a chance at many more attractive options.
Currently, Luther Burden and Elic Ayomanor are available for selection in the first round next spring. Emeka Egbuka, Evan Stewart and Isaiah Bond are lower on the list but are also in his top 50. Each of these players has the ability to be an immediate contributor at WR2.
For seven weeks, the Cowboys got a taste of what it's like without a true WR2 on the roster, and it wasn't pretty. Let this lesson guide you as the Cowboys work out their to-do list this winter.
