Cowboys Rookies Grades at Midseason: Jalen Tolbert, Tyler Smith & More

FRISCO – Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Jalen Tolbert hasn’t set the world alight in his first NFL season, however he’s making respectable strides.

The upside: On Sunday within the Cowboys’ 49-29 win over Chicago, Tolbert performed his highest variety of snaps for his profession at 25. 

The draw back: Whereas on the sector, the receiver did not see a goal from Dak Prescott.

Nonetheless, as we work to grade Dallas’ rookie class at midseason, we word that offensive coordinator Kellen Moore favored what he noticed from Tolbert and says that he’ll achieve confidence from the expertise.

“It was nice for Jalen to actually have that chance to go on the market,” Moore stated. “I believed he hopped in there, dealt with himself rather well. Clearly, he didn’t get the targets, however whenever you watch movie, you watch his particular routes, he did a pleasant job. … That’s an enormous constructing alternative for him to play near 30 snaps within the recreation and now construct off of that and construct some confidence due to it. It will likely be large for him.”

Nonetheless, of Dallas’ rookie class, third-rounder Tolbert ranks as a disappointment, and our grade for him displays that. The rookie report card …

Tyler Smith – The primary-round offensive lineman has been so good at left deal with that if Tyron Smith returns, Dallas will solely reluctantly shift the teen to protect. – A

Sam Williams – The dream was that the exit of Randy Gregory could be made extra tolerable by the second-round choice of Williams. With two sacks, the dream is coming true. – A

Jalen Tolbert – The third-rounder is, in reality, nonetheless studying the sport of soccer. He was anticipated to be a rotational receiver, or possibly even an early-season starter. Dallas was, to date, means off on all of these ideas. – F

Jake Ferguson – The Cowboys actually believed they knew what they have been getting within the fourth spherical, a TE2 from Day 1. Dalton Schultz’ accidents have requested him to be greater than that. And Ferguson has answered. – B

Matt Waletzko – The fifth-rounder made an enormous leap into the job of swing deal with, all alongside attempting to go along with a bum shoulder that now wants surgical procedure. Greater than a prospect going ahead. – B

Damone Clark – It was just some months in the past that the fifth-rounder underwent spinal fusion surgical procedure. He and the Cowboys have been largely alone in considering he’d play this 12 months. However he debuted towards the Bears. A soon-to-be core special-teamer? Perhaps one thing extra? – C

DaRon Bland – He exploded onto the scene in coaching camp and now, with the Jourdan Lewis harm, steps in because the slot nook … and the Cowboys protection does not appear to be lacking a beat. – B

Devin Harper – Harper was a sixth-rounder who appeared in three video games earlier than he was not too long ago moved to IR. Did Dallas discover an NFL expertise with its final choose? That is a “get.” – C

Alec Lindstrom – The Cowboys had sufficient religion within the UDFA to let him costume once they have been short-handed for one recreation, that means they not solely have some belief in him at his pure middle spot, however possibly slightly extra. – INC

Markquese Bell – The UDFA security hasn’t been lively sufficient to have made an affect. … and the jump-up of Clark would possibly hold within the shadows. However this can be a special-teams standout ready to occur. – INC

Peyton Hendershot – The UDFA tight finish caught everyone’s consideration along with his pace and grit in preseason video games. He combines with Ferguson to permit Dallas to think about not re-signing Schultz subsequent 12 months – a big accomplishment. – B

Malik Davis – The UDFA operating again has lots of believers within the constructing. Will he sometime provide proof that an NFL crew does not want a $15 million operating again? – C

Rookie operating again Davis earned some additional point out right here after he obtained his shot with Ezekiel Elliott sitting with a knee harm.

Davis, working in reduction of Tony Pollard and his 131 yards dashing, ran for 23 yards on eight carries and caught two passes out of the backfield for 18 yards in what was a great introduction to NFL soccer.

“He did a very nice job, it was superior,” Moore stated of Davis’ efficiency. “First recreation on the market, it was simply so clean, clean transition from Tony to him so far as consolation stage, calling the performs. Credit score to him, we felt very comfy with him all through preseason, coaching camp.”

Davis and among the others are bonuses. Tyler and among the others are “hits.” Tolbert is, then, the pivotal man to determine on the true high quality of the 2022 NFL Draft in Dallas … with extra report playing cards to be written.

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