The Dallas Cowboys are looking to shake off last year’s playoff disappointment and bounce back with a Super Bowl run in 2022. After an early exit at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers last year, the Cowboys will be determined to have a better postseason showing next season.
The team made some notable moves in the offseason, parting ways with Amari Cooper before extending the contracts of CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup. While there weren’t sweeping changes to the offense, Lamb will be taking on a bigger role in 2022 following Cooper’s departure, and it’ll be interesting to see how Prescott fares with the new-look receiving corps.
The Cowboys shouldn’t have too much difficulty winning the NFC East again in 2022, so long as they live up to their expectations. The Giants don’t figure to make a big push and the Commanders will be starting Carson Wentz under center. The Eagles made big strides in the offseason, but the Cowboys still have enough talent to fend them off.
Dallas will need some players to step up and make improvements this season if they want to reach the Super Bowl, however, and there are certainly some guys in prime position to make a big impact.
With all that in mind, here is the biggest surprise Cowboys’ X-factor for the 2022 season.
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Cowboys Surprising X-Factor in 2022 NFL Season
James Washington
The Cowboys signed James Washington in the offseason after he left the Steelers via free agency. As it stands, Washington figures to be the third option at wide receiver for Dallas, firmly behind CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup on the depth chart.
With Lamb stepping into the WR1 role, he’ll be facing more intense coverage from opposing defenses, which will open up the door for better looks for the likes of Gallup, Washington, and tight end Dalton Schultz. Gallup is coming off an ACL injury and his status for Week 1 remains up in the air. That could leave Washington in position to see some significant usage throughout the first few weeks of the year, which we’re expecting him to make the most of.
Washington’s time with the Steelers was a bit up and down. It didn’t take long for him to fall down the pecking order behind the likes of Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Diontae Johnson. He showed flashes of his potential with the Steelers, however, and can hopefully recapture some of that in Dallas.
In 2019, Washington racked up 44 receptions for 735 yards and 3 touchdowns. His target share has decreased in each season since, but he’s totaled 54 receptions for 677 yards and 7 touchdowns in the past two years. At just 26 years old, Washington still has room to grow and reach his potential as a former second-round pick. He’s finally in line to receive a substantial target share now that he’s in Dallas, particularly in the early going while Gallup works his way back from his ACL injury.
Prescott and Washington will look to develop a close rapport in the early part of the season, which will certainly help Washington remain a key cog in the offense as the season goes on, even when Gallup returns.
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