Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Ryan Flournoy will make his NFL debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. Cowboys veteran wideout Brandin Cooks is dealing with a knee injury that will sideline him week-to-week. Flournoy had previously been a healthy scratch, but his exciting skill set will finally be on display versus the Steelers.
The Cowboys selected Flournoy with a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With Cooks out of the lineup, Flournoy could serve as the No. 3 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert. That could offer the former Southeast Missouri State standout an opportunity to impact the offense.
Cowboys WR Ryan Flournoy ahead of NFL debut on Sunday:
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) October 2, 2024
“Super confident. I’ve built that hunger. It’s week five and I haven’t played since that last preseason game. I’ve been hungry ever since. I’m thankful that I’m able to show what I got and prove to the world that I belong.”
Flournoy began establishing himself as a draftable prospect through two great seasons at the FCS level. In 2022, he recorded 61 receptions for 984 yards and seven touchdowns while being named First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). Flournoy was named to Bruce Feldman's infamous "Freaks List" ahead of 2023, and he'd go on to accumulate 57 catches for 839 yards and six touchdowns.
Flournoy then entered the pre-draft process as an intriguing small-schooler. The Hazel Crest, Illinois native took advantage of his opportunities to improve his reputation and draft stock. Flournoy competed in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl, and routinely looked like a big-time playmaker that belonged alongside some of the best prospects in the country.
Flournoy later put forth impressive testing results at the NFL Scouting Combine. The rocked-up 6-foot and 202-pound prospect ran the 40-yard dash in an excellent 4.44 seconds. Flournoy also had an 11-foot broad jump and a 39.5-inch vertical en route to an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.89. He became the first player drafted from Southeast Missouri State since 1998.
Ryan Flournoy was drafted in round 6 pick 216 in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.89 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 38 out of 3402 WR from 1987 to 2024. https://t.co/wLWr8qEs74 pic.twitter.com/IUruzTPkO8
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2024
Flournoy appeared in all three Cowboys preseason games. He recorded nine receptions on 12 targets for 61 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He visited the end zone in consecutive contests to conclude the exhibition. Cowboys quarterbacks had a passer rating of 125.3 when targeting Flournoy, according to Pro Football Focus.
Flournoy played 49 snaps as a boundary receiver, and eight in the slot. He'll likely spell Tolbert on the outside versus the Steelers on Sunday. Flournoy averaged 2.7 yards after catch per reception, forced two missed tackles, and saw an average depth of target (aDoT) of 6.0, and 1.09 yards per route run.
Flournoy consistently displayed his exciting athletic ability and pro-ready frame. He's an instinctual route runner who poses a legitimate threat in the red zone. Flournoy has some traditional alpha "X" receiver tendencies with contested-catch ability that could make him a candidate to capture Dak Prescott’s attention when the Cowboys are within scoring distance.
Flournoy displayed intriguing traits throughout a fruitful training camp and preseason periods. The Cowboys have brought him along slowly, but an injury to Cooks should provide an opportunity against the Steelers this weekend. Flournoy possesses the skill set required to maximize whatever targets come his way.
