With Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup in the fold, the Cowboys are strong at the top of their receiver corps, but Randall Cobb’s departure to Houston created a glaring hole at slot receiver, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dallas targeted that position on Day 1 or 2 of the NFL draft.

The Cowboys have many more needs on the defensive side of the ball, but slot receiver shouldn’t be discounted -- the value of a No. 3 receiver continues to grow as the passing game continues to proliferate in the NFL. The best and easiest means to victory is an efficient passing game, and one of the best ways to create that kind of attack is with a strong offensive line and a full stable of pass-catching weapons at the quarterback’s disposal.

The Cowboys have a strong offensive line, even without the now-retired Travis Frederick, but outside of Cooper and Gallup, their receivers leave a lot to be desired. As of now, players like Cedrick Wilson, Ventell Bryant, Devin Smith and Noah Brown would be vying for the No. 3 spot -- none of whom have proven capable of stepping into that role yet.

Despite all the defensive needs, the Cowboys would be wise to invest in a talented slot receiver in the first three rounds. This could provide them with a complementary option who can help optimize the offense’s output.

Without further ado, let’s look at a few receiver prospects who would be great fits for the Cowboys.

Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, for my money, is the best receiver in this class and would be a perfect fit for what the Cowboys need.

Listed at 6-1, 193 pounds, Jeudy is a technically sound player who doesn’t have the best physical traits but can line up anywhere and have success, though he’s most dominant in the slot. In 2019, he finished with 77 catches on 108 targets for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns, most of which came from the slot. Jeudy finished with 49 catches for 702 yards when aligned in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jerry Jeudy so damn disrespectful lol pic.twitter.com/rKc4JZ3HcY — 𝐂𝐅𝐁𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝟐𝟒𝟕TM (@CFBLive247) April 1, 2020

Jeudy’s success is built on his NFL-caliber route running. He didn’t face press coverage a ton, but he did display a library of releases that he can use to get free along the line of scrimmage. Jeudy does a masterful job of attacking a defensive back’s leverage, meaning: If a defensive back is shaded outside his frame in off coverage, Jeudy will stem his route outside in an effort to widen that defender to create more space for whatever route he is running.

Must see TV even when the ball doesnt come his way. pic.twitter.com/wCeo5KnxTP — Derrick (@derrick_daKidD) April 3, 2020

Jeudy’s elevated route running is most apparent in his ability to get in and out of his breaks. He masterfully uses deception, proper breaking mechanics and burst to manipulate and take advantage of a defensive back’s leverage to create separation out of breaks.

All of that comes before Jeudy even gets the ball in his hands, which is another area where his game thrives. He accumulated an average of 7.8 yards after the catch, according to PFF. Jeudy is very elusive with the ball in his hands and has the deep speed to outrun defenders and pursuit angles.

In terms of ball skills, Jeudy doesn’t have Velcro for hands, but he’s very comfortable making catches outside of his frame and in contested-catch situations. He will have the occasional drop when he loses concentration or turns his eyes downfield before securing the ball.

Jerry Jeudy, WR1.



He is the top pure separator in this class. He consistently wins at the intermediate and deep levels of the field with strong route-running and releases at the LOS. And his YAC ability is also a huge plus.pic.twitter.com/jOUpQ5SdhI — Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) March 23, 2020

Typically, one would expect a player of Jeudy’s caliber to be a lock top-10 pick, but the sheer depth of this receiver class plus his lack of a defining physical trait could push him down to the teens, where it would be awfully tempting to trade up for him -- he’s that good.

Jalen Reagor, TCU

Another exciting option for the Cowboys is TCU’s Jalen Reagor, who was one of the most electric playmakers in college as a sophomore (1,231 total yards and 11 touchdowns) before he was hamstrung by legitimately terrible quarterback play as a junior (700 total yards and five touchdowns). Just 30.7% of Reagor’s targets in 2019 were charted as accurate by PFF.

Even with awful quarterback play, Reagor, a standout at Waxahachie High School, was able to show off an exciting skill set that should translate well to the NFL. He lined up all over the formation, including in the backfield, but for the most part, he aligned as the right outside receiver in TCU’s offense.

This route by Jalen Reagor is *chef kisses fingers* pic.twitter.com/6fReul0ILJ — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 6, 2020

While not on Jeudy’s level, Reagor proved to be an extremely effective route runner who consistently created separation against his Big 12 competition. Reagor didn’t see a ton of press, but when he did (like against Ohio State in 2018), he proved very capable of earning separation at the line of scrimmage. His lateral agility consistently made it difficult for opposing cornerbacks to get a hand on him. He will likely need to add to his library of releases in the NFL, but Reagor has a strong foundation to work from in that area.

Much like Jeudy, Reagor does an excellent job of attacking leverage with his stem before using deception and excellent burst to run away from defenders out of his break. Reagor displays rare acceleration ability through his stem, quickly eating up and flying by a defender’s cushion in off coverage.

I'm not sure Jalen Reagor has elite top-end speed, but his ability to accelerate through his stem to eat up an off-coverage defender's cushion is excellent. pic.twitter.com/qyP7190ZKW — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 6, 2020

Reagor doesn’t quite have the deep speed to maximize the space created during the acceleration phase, but he’s certainly not lacking in that department -- he will have the capability to take the top off of opposing defenses in the NFL, illustrated by his 4.47 40-yard dash.

He didn’t consistently run a full route tree at TCU, but don’t confuse that with an inability to do so. He possesses the technique and movement skills to run any route necessary with speed and fluidity.

While his route-running potential in the NFL is massive, Reagor is most exciting once he gets the ball in his hands, as he is extremely elusive with impressive contact balance and power for his size. Reagor isn’t afraid of physicality, but he does his best work when making defenders miss in open space, which is why he will be a great weapon on jet sweeps and bubble/tunnel screens.

Unfortunately, his ball skills are very inconsistent (seven drops in 2019).

On one play, Reagor can use his 42-inch vertical to sky over opposing defensive backs for an impressive contested catch above the rim.

On the next play, he may drop an easy bubble screen that hits him in the chest. That kind of inconsistency can lead to some major frustration about Reagor’s ability from play to play.

On top of that, he appeared to be really affected by shoddy quarterback play, as Reagor’s effort levels waned through large swaths of 2019. Not only did this lead to him running lazy routes on occasion, but it also limited his effectiveness as a blocker, as Reagor appeared to be completely uninterested in blocking at times.

While it may be a little rich to target Reagor at No. 17, he definitely deserves consideration in the second round, especially if the Cowboys somehow find themselves with an early second-rounder due to a trade down in the first.

Denzel Mims, Baylor

While the typical pre-draft process was turned on its head because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems as though the Cowboys have shown a lot of interest in Baylor’s Denzel Mims. Now, it’s important to not put too much stock in that report -- it could mean they have been doing their due diligence. But any potential interest in Mims is fascinating given he’s viewed more as an outside receiver than a slot.

Listed at 6-3, 207 pounds, Mims has size that’s typically more associated with outside receivers but could also fulfill a “big slot” role in Mike McCarthy’s offense. In Green Bay, McCarthy often utilized the 6-3, 202-pound Geronimo Allison in the slot, which is a role Mims could thrive in despite most of his experience being outside.

While Mims certainly produced a lot at Baylor, posting three straight seasons with at least eight touchdowns and over 750 receiving yards, his stock has continued to rise because of his work at the Senior Bowl and the NFL scouting combine.

At the combine, Mims was the heaviest receiver to run a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, which he complemented with elite scores in the three-cone drill, vertical and broad jumps. He tested into the 94.6th percentile among NFL receivers, according to Three Sigma Athlete.

Baylor's Denzel Mims rocketed up @PFF's draft board after a strong week at the Senior Bowl, going from No. 71 to No. 37.



Mims showed off advanced route-running ability in the one-on-one drills. He's an explosive, physical receiver prospect with legit skills. pic.twitter.com/FOjO4NJPkc — Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) January 27, 2020

At the Senior Bowl, Mims quieted any concerns evaluators may have had about his ability to get off press coverage or run the full route tree -- he was, by far, the most dominant receiver there. At Baylor, Mims proved to be dominant on slants, stop (curl/comeback) and go routes but didn’t run much else, so it was great to see him dominate when asked to run a more encompassing route tree.

Denzel Mims against soft press: hesitation release that initially feels like single move release, but suddenly comes outside and upfield.



Watch the left foot double-step, watch Mims pop upright at the line. *Seems* like he's gonna drop his weight and stutter. Great deception. pic.twitter.com/eoSKidBWvU — Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 25, 2019

Mims is the rare receiver who can win with finesse and physicality. He can earn separation with his movement skills, deep speed and route-running ability, or he can use his size to create separation with his off hand late in the route. Mims is borderline too physical at times, which may earn him some offensive pass interference calls, but it happens infrequently enough that it shouldn’t be of much concern.

What does deserve concern is Mims’ maddening inconsistency at the catch point.

Monster grab in a contested catch situation by Denzel Mims. pic.twitter.com/O1yMVO8toP — John Owning (@JohnOwning) February 25, 2020

More so than almost any receiver in this class outside of USC’s Michael Pittman Jr., Mims has a penchant for making spectacular grabs in contested-catch situations above the rim. On those plays, he displays strong hands, magnificent body control and an understanding of how to use his body to shield defenders from the ball. Mims led all college receivers in contested catches since 2017 with 39, according to PFF.

But Mims mixes those magnificent catches with a bevy of frustrating drops. In the last two years, he dropped 12.9% of his passes, according to PFF.

Still, Mims’ magnificence in contested-catch situations indicates that he can clear up the drop issue with better concentration and more consistent technique in seeing the ball into his hands before turning his eyes upfield.

Overall, he has the size and skill set of a traditional outside receiver but could fill the “big slot” role as Dallas’ No. 3 receiver. While there have been whispers that Mims can sneak into the late first round, he is definitely someone the Cowboys should consider in Round 2 if available.

KJ Hamler, Penn State

Penn State’s KJ Hamler is a diminutive receiver with Tyreek Hill-like speed and ability to take the top off of defenses.

Listed at 5-9, 178 pounds, Hamler’s primary NFL role should be in the slot, which matches up nicely with the Cowboys’ needs. He is essentially a more electric version of Tavon Austin, possessing special quickness, burst and deep speed.

KJ Hamler has the deep speed to run away from man coverage and the deception at the top of the route only makes it more lethal. pic.twitter.com/5fWWcoz0Nn — John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 6, 2020

In one-on-one coverage, Hamler is almost impossible to cover in the slot. His quickness makes it incredibly tough to get a hand on him at the line of scrimmage while his deep speed and acceleration enable him to run away from most defensive backs in man coverage. Even when defenses provided their defensive backs with a cushion from off coverage, Hamler would quickly eat that space up and blow by them in the blink of an eye. The only way opposing teams were able to slow down his playmaking ability was by bracketing him with safeties over the top. (Poor quarterback play would do it, too.)

While deep speed will be Hamler’s trump card, he should also be very effective in the short-to-intermediate portions of the field. Hamler uses deception at the top of his routes, which helps him create giant swaths of separation in conjunction with his electric speed.

Hamler isn’t the cleanest route runner, as he has a tendency to drift upfield a bit on his 90-degree breaks, but his pure speed and acceleration more than make up for that right now. If he can clean up technique at the top of routes, there’s no telling how dangerous Hamler can be from the slot.

Once he gets the ball in his hands, Hamler is extremely elusive, capable of making multiple defenders miss in succession in tight quarters. In open space, his rare speed enables him to outrun pursuit angles and leave defenders in the dust.

As fun as Hamler is before and after the catch point, he’s just as frustrating at the catch point, often playing the position as if he doesn’t have arms. Hamler is a body catcher who shows significant issues anytime he’s forced to extend outside of his frame. He does do a good job of scooping low passes or making contested catches with defenders on his back, but that’s only if the ball is already on or below his frame. Even in contested-catch situations above the rim, Hamler will leap and still look to body catch, allowing defenders to get their hands on the ball even if initially out of position.

Couple Hamler’s poor ball skills with his diminutive frame, and you get a catching radius the size of a bull’s-eye on a dartboard.

He does track the deep ball extremely well, so he does a good job of adjusting his stride to put himself in position to haul in those passes. This minimizes Hamler’s inability to makes contested grabs outside of his frame.

Hamler’s game-breaking speed, ascending route-running ability and elusiveness with the ball in his hands make him an extremely tempting option on Day 2.

Devin Duvernay, Texas

Texas’ Devin Duvernay, of Sachse High School, is an exciting mid-round prospect who could provide the Cowboys with a quality slot receiver who excels with the ball in his hands.

Listed at 5-10, 200 pounds, Duvernay is built like a running back and plays like one too, but he has receiver traits that enable him to excel in the slot.

Remember when Devin Duvernay was snubbed from the major postseason awards?



His highlight reel tonight against Utah: pic.twitter.com/B7P1r58rk1 — Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) January 1, 2020

Duvernay isn’t a refined route runner at this point, but that is masked a bit by his effectiveness in contested-catch situations. In 2019, he went 8 for 11 on contested catches 10-plus yard yards downfield, according to PFF, doing an excellent job of tracking the ball while displaying the play strength and hand technique to haul in receptions through contact.

The fun with Duvernay truly starts once he gets the ball in his hands, when he displays running back power and elusiveness as a ball carrier. Ask LSU’s Grant Delpit about how easy it is to bring down a hard-charging Duvernay (above clip). This is why he will be incredibly effective on jet sweeps and bubble/tunnel screens -- he’s a playmaker when provided with the space to work.

Duvernay even displayed the ability to align in the backfield and take carries, showing adequate vision to go with his elusiveness and power. This could provide an interesting wrinkle to Dallas’ five-receiver sets if he’s drafted. By going with five receivers, the defense will match that personnel with a bevy of defensive backs and pass-rush specialists on the defensive line, which, in theory, could make them susceptible to the ground game if Duvernay is motioned into the backfield.

Overall, Duvernay’s playmaking skill set would be a boon to the Cowboys at slot receiver. He may not be ready to create a ton of separation on his own with his routes, but his skills with the ball in his hands in conjunction with his contested-catch ability would enable him to carve out a respectable role.

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