Nick Eatman

While the Cowboys weren't exactly quiet during free agency this spring, there is still plenty of work to do for this team that finished 7-10 in 2024.

Not only did they add some key players in free agency and via trades, but they also re-signed some of the core depth as well.

Still, there are other guys on this team that must take that next step in order for the Cowboys to be successful in 2025.

Today, we'll continue the Next Man Up series with wide receiver Jalen Brooks.

• Name:Jalen Brooks

• Position:Wide Receiver

• Experience:3rd Year

• Games Played/Starts:21 / 1

• Years Left on Contract:2

• How Acquired:7th round, 2023 Draft, (South Carolina)

• Key Stat:Brooks caught just 12 passes in 2024 but he led the entire team with a 14.8 average per reception.

The Past:When the Cowboys drafted Brooks in the seventh round of the 2023 draft, it was expected that he might be more of a project at receiver and a special teams contributor. But then training camp hit and Brooks was the surprise of camp in Oxnard, showcasing his receiving skills that weren't always on display at South Carolina. Brooks, however, didn't exactly carry that over to the preseason games, yet he made the team as a rookie. He caught six passes in 2023 and was expected to take a bigger leap in 2024. Brooks was active in 14 of 17 games and caught 12 passes last year, leading the team in average per catch at 14.8 yards. He caught his first career touchdown

The Present:The wide receiver position is an interesting spot for the Cowboys as we turn the calendar to April. Players such as Brooks should have the opportunity to compete for spots, but currently, it's still unclear just what the entire receiver room will look like. With the departure of Brandin Cooks to the Saints in free agency, it opens up a spot for the moment for players such as Brooks and Jalen Tolbert to take a leap. Obviously, CeeDee Lamb headlines the wide receiver spot and there could be more snaps for KaVontae Turpin and Jonathan Mingo.The Cowboys have already said they wouldnt mind adding more help at receiver before the draft, and then taking a receiver in the NFL Draft is never off the table. So it won't be easy for Brooks to make an impact, but receiver is one position that seems to have a big learning curve. This is where he must separate himself and have a stellar offseason and training camp, leaning on the experience he has with Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer's system.

The Future:Being a draft pick gives Brooks a four-year contract and his salary shouldn't be too much where the Cowboys would want to go younger. This season, Brooks is expected to count $1.16 million, including a salary of $1.03 million. Where he Brooks has to stand out the most is be one of the top special teams players in the room, not to mention someone who can be reliable as a receiver. What helps Brooks is having the combination of being a bigger-body receiver who can also get down the field. But while he led the team in receiving average per catch, Brooks had one of the lowest catch-percentages on the team, catching just 12 of 30 targets. So being on the field is one thing, but he's got to be a player who can move the chains and be a trusted receiver fro his quarterback.