Deonte

Thompson

Thompson spent time with both the Bills and Cowboys last season, amassing 161 yards on 17 catches. The journeyman will compete for one of the final spots on New York’s depth chart.

Thompson had an eight game stint in Dallas after spending time in Buffalo last year. He takes the spot of Terrelle Pryor.

With Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Cole Beasley, and Tavon Austin (when healthy) locked in atop their position, the Cowboys no longer had a need for Deonte Thompson. Special teams standout Noah Brown and WR Lance Lenoir will reportedly be activated and moved to the active roster prior to Sunday. Thompson, a 29-year-old journeyman, will likely find a home as depth soon.

Both targets came with Dallas playing from behind in the second half. The fact that Thompson, a 29-year-old, undrafted journeyman, is playing significant snaps shows how desperate the Cowboys are for pass-catching help. Thompson can be left on the waiver wire for next week’s matchup against the Lions.

Streeter has impressed with his height and leaping ability in red-zone drills while Thompson continues to use his 4.3 speed to blaze by corners on go routes. A drop machine at Florida while posting just 21 catches and 264 yards last season, Thompson projects as a special teams “gunner” if he makes the team.

Thompson blazed a 4.32 forty at Florida’s pro day in March, and that “eye-catching” speed was on display via deep balls from Joe Flacco in OTAs. Although Thompson’s hands are questionable at best, it’s conceivable that he went undrafted primarily due to the Gator’s shoddy quarterback situation the past two years. With a strong camp, he could push for the final receiver spot in Baltimore.

Per reporter Ryan Mink, Thompson out-shined sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter. An indoor track star his first two years at the University of Florida, Thompson also won CSN Baltimore’s “Most Turned Heads” award for his performance in OTAs. Thompson will be in the thick of the battle for the Ravens’ final receiver spot.

“This one is over,” says beat writer John Eisenberg. “It was Jacoby Jones’ job to lose, and he didn’t.” Despite an impressive offseason, Tandon Doss has failed to make waves in camp due to a hamstring injury. LaQuan Williams has made more plays than sixth-rounder Tommy Streeter, and speedy UDFA Deonte Thompson has “faded a bit lately.”

There are no surprises on this list. Baltimore is one of the healthiest teams in football right now, and Terrell Suggs is due back early next month.

Jones’ special teams role has been scaled back because the Ravens want to find out if Thompson can provide a spark. The speedy rookie averaged 22 yards on four returns Monday night after an eye-popping 39.8-yard average on five preseason returns.