The Dallas Cowboys made a blockbuster trade when they acquired George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his addition could mean the departure of former third-round pick Jalen Tolbert. After spending his first two seasons in a depth role, the South Alabama product broke out with a strong 2024. Appearing in all 17 games while making 15 starts, Tolbert finished the year with 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns while catching passes from Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, and Trey Lance.
Jalen Tolbert isn’t an All-Pro by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s a reliable second or third option in a passing attack. However, with Pickens and superstar CeeDee Lamb ahead of him on the depth chart, Bleacher Report‘s Gary Davenport believes the Cowboys could entertain a Jalen Tolbert trade. While they might not get anything more than a Day 3 pick for his services, some receiver-needy teams could pick up the phone.
“Sure, Dallas isn’t exactly overflowing with depth at wide receiver. But it also makes sense for the Cowboys to try to get the ball into the hands of speedster KaVontae Turpin more in 2025,” Davenport writes. “Several teams are worse off at wideout than Dallas, and with Tolbert entering the last year of his rookie deal, the argument can be made for shopping them.”
Cowboys Could Trade Jalen Tolbert After George Pickens Addition
Possible Fits
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are ready to compete for a championship heading into the second year of the Jim Harbaugh Era. After making the playoffs in Year 1, Harbaugh and company upgraded the trenches throughout the offseason and have a roster capable of winning old-school football games. However, they need more receiving talent to go blow-for-blow with the elite passing attacks of the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens. A Jalen Tolbert trade would give this team some much-needed help at the position and give Justin Herbert a proven weapon opposite Ladd McConkey.
Tennessee Titans
The fate of the Tennessee Titans rests in the hands of first-overall pick Cam Ward, which means the team must do everything they can to support him. Calvin Ridley is a good wide receiver, but Tyler Lockett is well past his prime and Treylon Burks has yet to justify his first-round draft capital. Jalen Tolbert won’t single-handedly determine Ward’s success in the NFL, but it can’t hurt to trade a late-round pick for a player who could be the second-best receiver in this offense.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints will not compete for much of anything in the 2025 season. However, that shouldn’t stop them from upgrading the wide receiver room with a Jalen Tolbert trade. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are an adequate duo, but Olave’s extensive concussion history makes him a risk for a full 17-game season. Tolbert could provide some much-needed stability to this room and help either Spencer Rattler or second-round pick Tyler Shough develop into a legitimate franchise quarterback.
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