The NFL offseason is essentially over as teams prepare for training camps next month. Media outlets will fill the void with lists, and ESPN got things started with their biggest surprise for all 32 teams this offseason.
For the Dallas Cowboys, that player is wide receiver Ryan Flournoy. Coming off his 40 catch, 475 yard, four touchdown 2025 campaign, Flournoy has continued to impress.
This shouldn’t be a shock to anyone who’s been paying attention this offseason, Flournoy has been one of the most common names brought up when talking about the Cowboys. The third-year WR has earned rave reviews for his development and could be on the verge breaking out into a viable option in the passing game, even without an injury to one of Dallas’ top two WRs.
Here’s why Cowboys’ ESPN reporter Todd Archer named Flournoy as the biggest surprise, using a glowing answer Brian Schottenheimer about the WR:
“He earned it the right way, he earned it through special teams. He earned it by doing the run blocking, doing the things in the run game — the dirty work, if you will,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “Now he’s one of those guys — because he does everything right — Dak [Prescott] doesn’t hesitate when he looks at him. He just turns it loose. He gets to his spot.”
That’s high praise from the head coach and quarterback, who’s been throwing to him all the past few months. With veteran WR George Pickens missing most of the offseason program, Flournoy has gotten extra work with Dak Prescott, which can only help his progress for the upcoming season.
The Cowboys have two All-Pro WRs in front of him on the depth chart, but Flournoy should carve out a role as his game continues to ascend. With the league beginning to put more tights end on the field in 12 and 13 packages, Dallas’ offense may have a better case for having three receivers on the field to exploit defenses. That means Flournoy could be a bigger part of the passing game and see more opportunities.
Flournoy’s improvement this offseason and the way they’ve spoken about him also means the team believes he can produce as a No. 2 WR if anything should happen to CeeDee Lamb or Pickens. Last year Flournoy had two 100-yard games, one of which came with starting WR Lamb out of lineup, and the feeling is the 2024 sixth-round pick’s capable of having that type of success on a consistent basis if pressed into a bigger role.
The Cowboys have one of the best WR tandems in the league, and Flournoy makes it a top trio. The 26-year-old WR looks ready to breakout after being a surprise star this offseason.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Late round WR named biggest surprise for Cowboys this offseason
Reporting by Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire | USA TODAY Network
