Even in scarcity, there's no certainty.
Wide receiver is no longer a weakness for the Dallas Cowboys after they traded for George Pickens. Even though the room is thin behind Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, there are no guarantees for rookies like Josh Kelly. For Kelly, training camp represents the chance to prove himself deserving of a roster spot.
Cowboys rookie WR Josh Kelly might not make it through training camp
The Cowboys were in desperate need of a receiver to complement Lamb at the beginning of this offseason. For months, they held their ground, passing up on free agent options like Joshua Palmer and Stefon Diggs. They brought in former Philadelphia Eagle Parris Campbell as a depth piece, but it wasn't enough to satisfy fans.
Even in April's Draft, Dallas ignored the receiver position. With plenty of opportunities to add a pass-catcher, Jerry Jones and Co. consistently opted for other positions. After the draft, the Cowboys signed two undrafted free agents: Traeshon Holden and Josh Kelly.
Until the Cowboys traded for George Pickens, Kelly looked like he had a good chance to make the final 53-man roster. Now, the path is a bit more muddy.
NFL teams typically roster six or seven receivers. Dallas currently has nine. In all likelihood, at least two receivers currently on the Cowboys' roster won't be there in Week 1.
Josh Kelly still has a chance to make the team, but the odds are stacked against him.
Kelly had a productive collegiate career, playing for Fresno State, Washington State, and Texas Tech in his five seasons. After a dominant final season at Texas Tech, Kelly had hopes of being drafted in April.
But his performance at the NFL Combine hurt his stock significantly. Kelly ran a 4.7-second 40-yard dash and finished 46th among receivers in the NFL's Athleticism Score. NFL receivers have overcome limited athleticism in the past (see Cooper Kupp and Anquan Boldin), but those numbers still make scouts hesitate.
Kelly never heard his name called in the draft, but he was quickly scooped up by the Cowboys afterward.
His time in Dallas might be short-lived, though. With his lack of athleticism, Kelly may have trouble standing out in training camp. He has the ability to make highlight-reel catches, and he'll need to make a few to grab the attention of his coaches.
The Cowboys already sent Kelly and fellow UDFA Traeshon Holden a brutal message before training camp, giving both receivers jersey numbers currently worn by roster regulars. If this move is any indication, Kelly will have a tough time earning a roster spot.
At the end of the day, Kelly's fate will be determined by how he performs on the field. If he can outmatch the other wide receivers on the roster, it won't matter whether he was drafted or how fast he ran a 40-yard dash back in February.
Prove you're a good enough football player, and you're on the roster. It's a tall order, but it's possible for Kelly.