The Dallas Cowboys are slowly shaping their 53-man roster, and a veteran's name has entered the conversation. A former Super Bowl champion and a late arrival who signed with Dallas in late April is starting to stand out during early practice reps with the team. 

According to reports, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is trying to earn trust in the Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver room during the team’s first open OTA of the spring on June 4. But even with that, he still faces an uncertain path to the final 53-man roster because of strong competition and an already settled depth chart.

“It might just be because wide receiver George Pickens isn’t in attendance for OTAs,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram analyst Nick Harris wrote. “But recent free agent signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling picked up a lot of work with the first team Thursday.”

During Cowboys OTAs, George Pickens’ absence has given Valdes-Scantling extra first-team reps when he earned the Cowboys' trust.

On the play, Prescott targeted Valdes-Scantling, but the pass arrived behind its intended target. As Valdes-Scantling turned back to locate the ball, P.J. Locke was in position to make a play on it. Rather than risk an interception, the veteran receiver batted the pass away, turning a potential turnover into an incompletion.

Valdes-Scantling brings plenty of experience to the Cowboys’ receiver room. The veteran has played eight NFL seasons, with 219 receptions for 3,686 yards and 21 touchdowns.

A two-time Super Bowl champion, he has also shown he can perform in big moments, including his touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII. 

However, in Dallas, with CeeDee Lamb and Ryan Flournoy already set, the fight for remaining roster spots is still tight. 

His experience could be one reason the Cowboys are giving him more opportunities while Pickens is away. However, Valdes-Scantling still faces a tough roster battle, and these OTAs reps could be important in showing the Cowboys what he can offer. 

With Pickens away from OTAs, Valdes-Scantling has seen more opportunities, though the Cowboys remain unfazed by Pickens' absence.

Dallas Cowboys Stay Patient Over Pickens’ Absence 

The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pickens, and although he signed the one-year tender, the receiver is still looking for a long-term deal.

Under the terms of the franchise tag, Pickens is expected to earn around $27.3 million for the 2026 campaign. In April, Stephen Jones made it clear that Dallas would neither negotiate a multiyear extension nor move the receiver to another team this summer.

As they have yet to make a decision on Pickens' long-term future, he has stayed away from the Dallas Cowboys’ voluntary offseason workouts.

“Cowboys WR George Pickens has not attended the team's voluntary off-season workout program,” NFL insider Adam Schefter reported. “But he is expected at Dallas' mandatory minicamp June 16-18.”

Pickens’ decision comes after a strong first season in Dallas following his move from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He recorded nine touchdowns and became an important part of the Cowboys’ passing game, which is why he wants more security beyond the franchise tag.

For now, the Cowboys are staying patient with Pickens’ situation while giving Valdes-Scantling a chance during OTAs. The coming weeks could decide how both situations impact the team. 

What do you think of Valdes-Scantling's chances in the Cowboys' wide receiver room? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Divyanshi Raj

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar