JT #1

Jalen Tolbert

Wide Receiver · South Alabama

A record-setting Sun Belt receiver at South Alabama who developed into a Cowboys starter before a new-team reset in 2026.

Jalen Tolbert took a slow road to relevance in Dallas, needing three seasons before his production caught up to his third-round draft billing. After four years and a career-best 2024 with the Cowboys, he signed with a new team in 2026 to chase a bigger role.

★ Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year (2021)

★ 2x first-team All-Sun Belt at South Alabama

★ Career-high 610 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 2024

★ Game-winning touchdown catch vs. Pittsburgh in Week 5, 2024

Path to the league

Tolbert put together a record-setting career at South Alabama, earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors in both 2020 and 2021 and winning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year as a senior after posting 1,474 yards and eight touchdowns. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the third round, No. 88 overall, in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

Tolbert's rookie season was quiet, with just two catches for 12 yards over eight games, but he developed into a trusted target for Dak Prescott by 2024, posting career numbers of 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns, including a game-winning touchdown catch against the Steelers in Week 5. Across his four seasons in Dallas, he totaled 91 receptions for 1,093 yards and 10 touchdowns.

2025 season recap

Tolbert's role shrank after the Cowboys traded for George Pickens ahead of the 2025 season, with his offensive snap share falling from 76 percent in 2024 to 51 percent. He played in 13 games, was a healthy scratch for four others, and finished with 18 catches for 203 yards and one touchdown on 33 targets. He signed with a new team as a free agent in March 2026.