With the Organized Team Activities (OTAs) underway, the Dallas Cowboys made another offseason move by signing Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jaden Smith to bolster the depth in the WR room.

The former Nevada Wolf Pack wideout was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buccaneers, but was placed on injured reserve in training camp, keeping him on the sideline for the 2025 season.

“The Cowboys have signed WR Jaden Smith," Ari Meirov’s X post reported.

The 6-foot-6 player played for Nevada, Tarleton State, and Montana State in college.

He posted a total of 138 catches for 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns for 45 games played across the three programs. Smith also earned Second Team All-WAC honors in 2022, during his stint with Tarleton University.

He finished his collegiate career in Nevada with 62 receptions for 849 yards and seven receiving touchdowns, averaging 13.7 yards per catch, while being named Mountain West honorable mention.  

Nevada’s head coach, Jeff Choate, praised Smith’s ability to play in the red zone and commended his leadership.

“He’s an elite red zone threat,” Choate said in 2024, per Shannon Kelly of NevadaSportsNet. “I don’t know that I’ve ever been around a guy, and I’ve coached some places, that has anybody any better than Jaden Smith is in the red zone.”

Smith posted just one reception for 9 yards in 2 preseason games for the Buccaneers before joining the injured reserve in 2025. 

Chris Murray of Nevada SportsNet also mirrored Choate’s claims of Smith being an elite red zone target, but also pointed out to improve on his speed. 

"His size and high-pointing ability could get him an NFL shot, and he gets high marks for character/intangibles," Murray said in 2024 on a scouting report on Smith.

While the Cowboys certainly have some red-zone concerns, as previously mentioned by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, adding Smith would provide more strength in that area.

Cowboys Bolster Wide Receiver Depth With New Signing

The Cowboys also signed former SMU standout Romello Brinson, adding another receiver to an already loaded WR room and increasing the competition ahead of the training camp.

He was part of the rookie minicamp of the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted tryout player before signing with the Cowboys.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein assessed Brinson to be someone who is good at serious threats but doesn't have the route-running skills that are necessary to win on intermediate routes.

“Brinson is a field-stretcher, but the middle of his route tree is missing branches," Zierlein wrote. "He’s a long-strider with good acceleration to build speed and create opportunities for himself on vertical routes."

While both new additions to the WR room would face fierce competition to secure roster spots, they provide more depth to the team behind WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote