Jerry Jones has always loved a good Texas-sized spectacle. Picture this: The NFL Combine, America’s annual flea market for football talent, is like a smoky BBQ pit where every team’s front office licks their chops. Jones, the Cowboys’ ever-ambitious owner, is no stranger to turning up the heat, indeed. Think Brett Favre’s Hail Mary meets John Wayne’s swagger.
But this year, whispers out of Indianapolis aren’t just about 40-yard dashes or bench presses. Moreover, they’re about a reunion brewing between a certain Oregon speedster and a coach with a Midas touch. Hold onto your cowboy hats—this story’s got layers.
In addition, Oregon’s Tez Johnson, a human highlight reel with 2,080 career receiving yards, didn’t hold back at the Combine. “The best receiver coach in the league,” Johnson declared about the Cowboys’ new assistant, Junior Adams. “He knows what it takes to build players.” Adams, who mentored Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, now has Dallas buzzing. But Johnson didn’t stop there.
Cowboys WRs coach Junior Adams has helped develop a number of receivers over the years like Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and top prospect this year, Tez Johnson. Here’s what Johnson had to say about what the Cowboys are getting in Adams: pic.twitter.com/kUeiKjiqrM
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) February 28, 2025
Johnson credits Adams for transforming him from a raw speedster into a route-running technician. “He’s there [in Dallas] with a couple of guys I know, like Jalen Tolbert, who’s from Mobile, Ala., and I 100% told him as soon as he got in that’s going to be a guy you’re going to stick with,” Johnson said. The kicker? Adams already has his eyes on Jalen Tolbert. “He’s [Jalen] a sponge,” Johnson added. Tolbert, fresh off a 7-TD season, could be Adams’s next project.
Adams’ résumé reads like a ‘How to Develop WRs’ manual. At Eastern Washington, he helped mold Cooper Kupp. At Washington, he turned Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan into first-rounders. Now, he’s in Dallas…
And here, CeeDee Lamb’s star power needs a supporting cast. Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and Ryan Flournoy are raw clay waiting for Adams’ sculpting. “What I love about Junior, he’s able to take a very complicated position and make it simple for the players,” HC Brian Schottenheimer said. Imagine Adams as the QB Whisperer, but for receivers—grilling route trees like brisket. however, the Cowboys aren’t just flirting with Adams’ old pupils—they’re eyeing blue-chip talent.
Jones’s Cowboys’ Combine crushes: WRs galore and a hometown hero
Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, a 6’5” phenom with 20 TDs in two seasons, met formally with Dallas. Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, a crisp route-runner, chatted casually. McMillan, once a lock for the top 10, might slide to No. 12—a déjà vu moment. Don’t you remember?
It’s reminiscent of CeeDee Lamb’s draft-day fall in 2020. Pairing McMillan with Lamb? That’s like adding sriracha to your chili—spicy, but oh-so-right. Meanwhile, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, a Frisco native, admitted it’d be “dope” to join Dallas.
The 2024 Heisman runner-up ran for 2,601 yards last year, scoring 29 TDs—a human wrecking ball with dreads. But here’s the twist. Jones’s Cowboys haven’t formally met him. Why?
They’ll likely woo him at Dallas Day instead. Smart. No need to burn a Combine visit on a hometown kid who’s already got “Star” potential. But in the end, this Combine isn’t just about stopwatches. It’s about connections. From Adams’ bond with Johnson to Tolbert’s untapped potential, and from McMillan’s tantalizing slide to Jeanty’s Texas-sized dreams. The Cowboys are at a crossroads…
What does Jerry Jones do? Bet on Adams’ magic, draft a game-changer, or both? But here’s the real question: Can Dallas blend old-school grit and new-age speed to finally create a championship recipe? Pass the BBQ sauce—we’re ready to find out.
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