An optimist's guide to the 2024 Dallas Cowboys

After a disappointing end to the 2023 season, Cowboys fans have every right to be down on their team. But there’s many reasons to be hopeful for the defending NFC East champions. 

1. The passing game

The Cowboys’ running game (or lack thereof) may be suspect but their passing game remains one of the NFL’s best. Dallas finished third in passing yards with 258.6 per game last season and CeeDee Lamb finished second among wide receivers with a career-high 1,749 yards.

Lamb also set career marks with 181 targets, 135 catches and 12 touchdowns. Brandin Cooks had only 54 catches but still managed to score eight touchdowns, five coming in the team’s last seven games.

Cooks got better as the season went on and according to him, another wide receiver may be poised for a breakout. When speaking to reporters from Cowboys' OTAs, Cooks had high praise for third-year wideout Jalen Tolbert.

"He's ready to go," Cooks said. "Whatever the expectation is for him out there, I'm telling you he's going to crush it. He's ready." Tolbert has 280 yards over two seasons but if Cooks is right, NFC East cornerbacks could be in for a long season.

2. TE Jake Ferguson

Ferguson had only 19 catches for 174 yards and two scores as a rookie in but broke out in 2023 with 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season. He also had 10 passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s 48-32 playoff loss to Green Bay.