Dallas Cowboys select wideout Jalen Tolbert in third round of 2022 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys have selected Jalen Tolbert out of South Alabama with the 88th overall selection in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Unranked coming out of high school, Tolbert was the Sun Belt Conference’s offensive player of the year this past season.

Coming into the weekend, the Cowboys have needed help at the offensive guard and tackle spots after losing Connor Williams to the Dolphins via free agency, who was last season’s starting left guard. Starting right tackle La’el Collins is a Bengal after being released last month after being the starter since coming into the league in 2015.

Losing one of the top wide receivers in the league today in Amari Cooper in a trade to the Cleveland Browns has left a playmaking void out wide alongside budding star Ceedee Lamb. It’s a major task to ask a young receiver to carry the load of an entire wide receivers room, so look for McCarthy and company to look for more than just one speedy, sure-handed receiver/ tight ends at some point over the next two days of the NFL Draft.

The abrupt departure of defensive end Randy Gregory to the Denver Broncos has also thrown a wrench in head coach Mike McCarthy’s draft plans, who is now forced to search for new pieces for both his offensive and defensive lines.

In 2021, Dallas focused entirely on its defensive unit and selected Micah Parsons with the first round pick. Parsons went on to win the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, make the Pro Bowl and led the team in sacks (13), tackles for loss (20) and quarterback hits (30).

The selection will be the third of nine times the Cowboys will be on the clock throughout the weekend, barring any trades. The selection concludes the Cowboys Friday draft slate ahead of day three, where Dallas will enjoy six picks over the final three rounds, including four selections in the fifth round alone.