Tyler Johnson is no fresh-faced rookie; he is entering his seventh NFL season. But it will be his first in Dallas, and the veteran hasn’t done much to establish himself in the league in general. How does Johnson factor among the many contenders for a spot in the Cowboys’ 2026 receiver room?
Background
Years in NFL: 6
Acquired by: Free agent (2026)
While a highly productive receiver at Minnesota from 2017-2019, Johnson’s lack of standout athletic traits kept him from going high in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was selected
in the fifth round by Tampa Bay, joining the Bucs when Tom Brady became their starting quarterback. As a rookie, Johnson had a small role in the WR rotation but got to claim a Super Bowl ring. He had a larger share in 2021, 36 catches for 360 yards, but didn’t make it past final cuts the following season. In two years with Tampa, Johnson only sat for two games and got six starts.
From there, Johnson bounced around the league a bit. The Texans claimed him off the Bucs’ waiver but barely played him in 2022, then released him in October. Tampa brought him back via the practice squad, but he didn’t get any action. In 2023, he started the offseason with the Raiders but ended up going to training camp with the Rams. Again, he didn’t make the roster and spent the year on their practice squad.
Johnson returned with Los Angeles in 2024 and earned a reserve role, playing in 15 games and logging 291 yards on 26 catches. The following offseason, he signed with the Jets and played a bit role with 12 catches for 197 yards in just 12 games, though he did start five of them.
Last April, the Cowboys came out of a mostly defense-focused draft with WR Anthony Smith as a seventh-round pick, and a couple of undrafted free agents. But with veteran Parris Campbell retiring, they sought more experienced depth options and signed Johnson, as well as Marquez Valdes-Scantling, to the 90-man roster.
Contract Status
Years Left: 1
2026 Cap Hit: $1.08 million
Given his low NFL profile, and that he was still available after the draft, Johnson got an unsurprisingly minimal contract from Dallas.
2026 Projections
Role: Backup WR
Roster Chance: 15%
As we’ve said before, three WR spots are locked in with your superstars and Ryan Flournoy, and then KaVontae Turpin should have a fourth for his return work and occasional offensive usage. That doesn’t leave much for the rest of the pack: two spots at best, but quite possibly just one more. That makes for a battle royal this summer between veterans like Johnson, Valdes-Scantling, and Jonathan Mingo against young prospects like Smith, Traeshon Holden, Jordan Hudson, and others.
In a way, Johnson feels like the “middle” candidate in this field. He turns 28 in August, so he’s still right in that prime window. He doesn’t have Valdes-Scantling’s experience, but he’s also about four years younger. While he’s had some droughts in his playing time, he’s arguably accomplished more in the league than Mingo. If he takes to a new offense quickly, Johnson’s reliable hands and on-field toughness could help him compete. But if he is going to be WR4 or 5, a lack of proven special teams value could hurt.
Johnson very much feels like classic veteran insurance. If CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Flournoy are all healthy and ready to start Week 1, then Johnson probably loses out to younger guys with more upside. But if there is a greater need for experienced receivers when the Cowboys travel to New York for the season opener, Johnson could get more consideration at final cuts.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
RB Israel Abanikanda | P Bryan Anger | S Justin Barron | G T.J. Bass | C Cooper Beebe | CB DaRon Bland | RB Jaydon Blue | G Tyler Booker | CB Josh Butler | CB Caelen Carson | S Alijah Clark | DT Kenny Clark | OT Ajani Cornelius | RB Malik Davis | S Caleb Downs | DT Tommy Dunn | CB Cobie Durant | OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku | TE Princeton Fant | TE Jake Ferguson | WR Ryan Flournoy | OLB Rashan Gary | C Matt Hennessy | S Malik Hooker | OLB James Houston | QB Sam Howell | WR Jordan Hudson | LB Shemar James | G Trevor Keegan | CB Derion Kendrick | WR CeeDee Lamb | OLB Isaiah Land | OLB Marist Liufau | S P.J. Locke | FB Hunter Luepke | RB Phil Mafah | QB Joe Milton III | WR Jonathan Mingo | CB Devin Moore | DT Otito Ogbonnia | LB DeMarvion Overshown | QB Dak Prescott | CB Shavon Revel | TE DJ Rogers | TE Luke Schoonmaker | OT Drew Shelton | LS Trent Sieg | WR Anthony Smith | G Tyler Smith | TE Brevyn Spann-Ford | OT Terence Steele | CB Reddy Steward | OT Nate Thomas | S Jalen Thompson | DT Jay Toia | TE Michael Trigg | WR KaVontae Turpin | WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling | OLB Tyrus Wheat | RB Javonte Williams | DT Quinnen Williams | OLB Sam Williams | LB Dee Winters | DT D.J. Withers | S Julius Wood
