In 2026, Ryan Flournoy feels about as locked in to his role with the Dallas Cowboys as a player can be. Ahead of his third season, Flournoy enters training camp wth a firm spot on the WR depth chart, even if he takes his game to another level.
Background
Years in NFL: 2
Acquired by: 2024 6th-round pick
Flournoy rode an impressive college career at Southeast Missouri State to NFL draft consideration in 2024. He offered physicality, athleticism, and proven ball skills, but was knocked for a lack of refinement in his
technique and his small-school experience. As such, he dropped to the later rounds before the Cowboys finally took him in the sixth.
In his first camp and preseason, Flournoy made strong early impressions. His good hands and physical running after the catch were immediately noticeable. Some even drew comparisons to Cowboys legend Dez Bryant, at least stylistically. The hype was enough that Dallas didn’t risk Flournoy on the practice squad as a rookie, going long with six receivers to keep him safe. He would appear in 11 games due to various injuries, but didn’t get many looks with just 10 catches on 14 targets.
Last August, Flournoy was surprisingly waived at final cuts. But the team brought him back almost immediately, using the roster spot to facilitate its trade for backup offensive lineman Trevor Keegan. It ultimately felt more like roster math hijinks than an indictment on Flournoy, but Dallas did risk losing him to waivers. Thankfully they avoided that outcome.
After limited work in the first four games, Flournoy got the start in Week 5 due to a CeeDee Lamb injury. He produced 114 yards on six catches, making the Jets pay for keying on George Pickens. It was the start of Flournoy’s emergence as Dallas’ clear number-three receiver, which Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo had failed to do. Flournoy finished 2025 with 40 catches, 475 yards, and four touchdowns on just 56 targets.
Contract Status
Years Left: 1
2026 Cap Hit: $1.08 million
Had Flournoy not been waived last year, his original rookie deal would still be in effect through 2027. But when Dallas signed him back off the practice squad, it was to just a two-year contract. Flournoy is the winner here, likely cashing in on his success next spring with about a $5 million raise as a retricted free agent. Depending on where things are with Pickens’ contract, we’ll see if the Cowboys try to lock up Flournoy with a long-term deal before he’d be unrestricted in 2028.
2026 Projections
Role: WR3
Roster Chance: 100%
Again, this couldn’t be much simpler. As long as the Pickens negotiations go better than Dallas’ last financial fray with a star player, we know who the starting receivers will be. Flournoy remains clearly at number three as the Cowboys did not make any major moves at receiver this offseason. Turpin is still here as the return specialist and gadget guy on offense, but he’s not threatening to move up. Mingo is fighting just to stay in the league at this point, as is 31-year-old Marques Valdes-Scantling and fellow veteran Tyler Johnson. They’ll be battling young prospects like Traeshon Holden, Anthony Smith, Jordan Hudson, and others for the fifth and maybe sixth spots on the roster.
Of course, we never know if a young guy like Holden or Smith could make a stunning push. After all, we just saw that from Flournoy himself. But with continuity on offense and an upward trajectory from last year, Flournoy appears highly likely to keep advancing. And if Pickens does end up playing on the franchise tag, Flournoy has an opportunity to convince the Cowboys they already have a replacement ready for 2027. That potential should keep Flournoy hungry this season, even without much pressure beneath him.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
RB Israel Abanikanda
C Cooper Beebe
G Tyler Booker
S Alijah Clark
EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
TE Jake Ferguson
C Matt Hennessy
S Malik Hooker
EDGE James Houston
WR Jordan Hudson
LB Shemar James
G Trevor Keegan
CB Derion Kendrick
S P.J. Locke
FB Hunter Luepke
RB Phil Mafah
QB Joe Milton III
WR Jonathan Mingo
CB Devin Moore
LB DeMarvion Overshown
TE DJ Rogers
LS Trent Sieg
WR Anthony Smith
OT Terence Steele
CB Reddy Steward
DT Jay Toia
EDGE Tyrus Wheat
EDGE Sam Williams
DT D.J. Withers
