The Dallas Cowboys could be an ideal landing spot for a wide receiver who will break records.
As the Cowboys get ready for the 2024 NFL draft, they have a few key positions to fill on offense. One of those spots is at wide receiver. Although Dallas already has their top two receivers in CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, they are searching for a new third receiver after releasing Michael Gallup.
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso predicts that the Cowboys will select a record-breaking wide receiver from the University of Texas, Xavier Worthy. This 20-year-old receiver made waves at the NFL Combine by setting a new record for the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.21 seconds.
Trapasso suggests that the Cowboys could bring in a 'burner' for Dak Prescott and keep the receiver in Texas by choosing him with the 24th pick in the draft.
“Why can’t the Cowboys add a young, elite burner to the receiver group? Worthy staying in state would be fun for Dak Prescott,” Trapasso writes.
Why Xavier Worthy is Highly Touted Prospect
Worthy is not just a fast, undersized receiver — he has the potential to be a starter and is expected to be a first-round draft pick. He's been chosen for the All-Big 12 team three times and caught 75 passes for 1,014 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his final season at Texas.
As Bleacher Report’s Derrik Klassen notes in his evaluation of Worthy that he’s a “weapon” at the line of scrimmage as well.
“Worthy is also a threat at the line of scrimmage,” Klassen says. “Not only is he very quick and agile for screen passes, but he is also a highly effective player when in motion. His raw speed and quick movements can be very challenging for defenses to respond to and keep up with.”
Why Cowboys Should Draft Xavier Worthy
The fit from a playing perspective is clear; Dallas really needs a big-play option. Gallup used to fill that role by averaging 16.8 yards per catch — seventh in the NFL — in 2019. However, an ACL injury at the end of the 2021 season took away his big-play ability as he only averaged 10.9 yards per catch in 2022 and 12.3 yards per catch in 2023.
However, it might be even more appealing to choose Worthy because it makes financial sense. Selecting Worthy late in the first round would only cost a total of $14 million with a cap hit of approximately $2.5 million for the 2024 season.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski explains why the Cowboys are a potential landing spot for the Texas Longhorns alum.
“The potential addition of a rookie wide receiver is also important financially since the Cowboys need to sign Lamb to a contract extension,” Sobleski writes. “A rookie contract alongside the three-time Pro Bowler for the next three to four years will help manage costs. Sitting at the 24th overall pick, the Cowboys may be able to stay put and choose Worthy to give the offense an extra spark, even after finishing among the top five last season.”
The Cowboys heavily rely on Lamb as their main receiver, while Cooks is more of a possession receiver at this stage of his career. Dallas’ starting tight end, Jake Ferguson, is more of a reliable target for Prescott rather than a big-play option.
Including Worthy — who now holds the title of the fastest player in the NFL — could bring a new element to Dallas’ offense that may elevate them from just a playoff team to a possible Super Bowl challenger.
