Dallas Cowboys 2018 Training Camp Profile: Deonte Thompson

The new addition to the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver depth chart is veteran Deonte Thompson, who can become a solid role player within the rotation.

In what will be his seventh season in the NFL, new Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Deonte Thompson is now on his fourth team in those number of seasons. For what it is worth, he must be doing some things correctly in the league to continue to get signed by these teams.

As the 2018 season begins, Thompson is not only a member of the Cowboys’ wide receiver depth chart, but he’ll most likely play a key role within the offense depending on the progression of rookie Michael Gallup. Even if Gallup becomes a training camp standout and takes over a more significant role, don’t overlook Thompson and his abilities to contribute to the offense.

Combined with the Buffalo Bills and the Chicago Bears in 2017, Thompson totaled 38 receptions for 555 yards and two touchdowns. Breaking down his numbers from last season, Thompson had 11 receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown with the Bears, then added 27 receptions for 430 yards and one touchdown with the Bills.

In comparison to other wide receivers still on the Cowboys’ roster from last season, Terrance Williams totaled 53 receptions in 2017 for 568 yards and no touchdowns, and Cole Beasley had 36 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns. In fact, three of the leading yardage leaders from last season for the Cowboys (Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and Brice Butler) are no longer on the roster.

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For his career, Thompson has 77 receptions for 1,032 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 13.4 yards per reception.

In a staff article on DallasCowboys.com, a question was asked about which receiver has the “most potential,” and Thompson’s name came up in the answer:

"“A sneaky guy to keep an eye on for me is Deonte Thompson. There is something about his route running ability alone, along with that ability to finish plays, that gives me a little hope they might have found one.”"

In Thompson, the Cowboys don’t have a replacement for an “in his prime” Bryant, but compared to what players like Williams and Butler did last season, there is no reason why Thompson can’t exceed those type of numbers if given the opportunity.

Thompson played in 16 games one season ago with 11 games with the Bills and five with Chicago. Buffalo targeted Thompson 51 times in those games, and while being a wide receiver for the Bears, Thompson had 18 targets.

Where Thompson will also help the Cowboys is in his abilities to be a kickoff returner, something he’s done 82 times in his career. In 2017 with the Bears, Thompson returned 11 kickoffs for 229 yards, with a long return of 29 yards. Thompson has never returned a kickoff for a touchdown, but in 2016 while with the Bears he did have a 64-yard return. And in 2015, Thompson returned a kickoff 74 yards, also with the Bears.

Though the offseason has been slow for Thompson with reported Achilles issues on CowboysWire.USAToday.com, Thompson has been taking part in training camp and looks to be be getting back on track.

Even with Thompson not being a complete lock on staying on the roster, with the recent injury of Cedrick Wilson, Thompson will need a good showing this preseason in whatever capacity the Cowboys decide to use him.

What is good about having Thompson is maybe he can challenge others on the wide receiver depth chart to up their game and improve their play over last season, because if they don’t – well, it be a long season for the passing game of the Cowboys.

It wouldn’t be a bad thing to see the depth chart get shaken up some, and Thompson could be a part of the change and improvement needed at the wide receiver position in 2018. If Thompson does well with the Cowboys this upcoming season, that may mean the rest of the Cowboys have stepped up their game as well, which is what’s needed in playing in the tough NFC East.