Cowboys Camp Battle Pits Tolbert vs. Mingo

An interesting training camp battle is set to take place when the Dallas Cowboys begin their offseason work in Oxnard, California. 

When the Cowboys traded for wide receiver George Pickens, he instantly became the team’s WR2.

And with franchise wideout CeeDee Lamb, Dallas its top dog.

But … the WR3 job is open and up for grabs.

The WR3 role in an offense has become essential to a team’s success with 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRSs) being one of the most frequently used alignments in today’s NFL.

For the Cowboys, the two receivers primed to compete for the WR3 gig seem to be Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo.

By the numbers? It’s Tolbert’s job to lose as he is coming off a breakout season where he recorded 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2024 season. 

Meanwhile …

After being traded to Dallas midway through last season, Mingo posted just five receptions for 46 yards and no touchdowns in his eight appearances with the Cowboys.

And yet some have predicted that it will be Mingo who will start alongside Lamb and Pickens to form a revamped wide receiver trio heading into the 2025 season.

One big reason Mingo gets mentioned here, frankly? Dallas surrendered a fourth-round pick to Carolina in that trade …

And the front office would like to be proven right,

While Mingo stands 6-2, 220 pounds and offers a big-bodied skillset that is arguably different than what the Cowboys currently have on the roster, Tolbert has proven to be more productive with his increased reps.

There are other candidates, too. And the Dak Prescott-led passing attack with largely be about Lamb and Pickens.

But then comes competition.

Training camp will determine who’s ready to step up to the plate and secure the third starting wideout role.