Dallas Cowboys 2025 UDFA scouting report: WR Josh Kelly

We continue looking into this year’s undrafted free agent signings made by the Dallas Cowboys and give you our scouting report on each player. Today we are looking at wide receiver Josh Kelky from Texas Tech.

WR
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Senior
3-star recruit
6’1”
186 lbs

Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images

History

Josh Kelly was born on July 1, 2001, in Fresno, California. He attended San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, California, where he emerged as a standout athlete as a two-way player in football. As a wide receiver, he posted impressive numbers, highlighted by 58 receptions for 1,127 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior year, helping lead his team to the 2018 Division 2-A state championship game. On defense, he also made his mark with eight interceptions as a junior, showcasing his versatility. Kelly earned second-team All-State honors as a senior and was rated a three-star recruit, drawing interest from several programs before committing to Fresno State to stay close to home.

In 2019, Kelly appeared in one game, starting against Nevada. He recorded a single reception and was then redshirted for the rest of the year. The following year Kelly played in a pandemic-shortened season. He played all six games, starting four and logged 22 receptions for 330 yards and one touchdown. He also contributed on special teams with 12 kick returns for 225 yards.

In 2021, Kelly played all 13 games, starting nine, and earned All-Mountain West honorable mention honors. He was the team’s second-leading receiver with 52 catches for 778 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 15.0 yards per catch. He recorded three 100-yard receiving games, including a career-best 127 yards.

The next year, Kelly had an injury-limited season and appear in only six games. He totaled 12 receptions for 207 yards.

Transferring to Washington State, Kelly started all 12 games in 2023. He led the team with 923 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 61 receptions, averaging 15.1 yards per catch. He had four 100-yard games, including a standout 159-yard, three-touchdown performance against Oregon State.

In 2024, Kelly transferred again, this time to Texas Tech where he started all 12 regular-season games. He led Texas Tech with 89 receptions for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the program’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2018. He led the FBS with 32 third-down receptions and earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors.

2024 Statistics

768 Offensive SnapS
123 Targets
89 Receptions
1,023 Receiving Yards
5 TDs
605 YAC
26 Missed Tackles Forced
102.1 Passer RTG When Targeted
50 First Downs
3 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day

10-Yard Split- 1.56s (54%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.70s (3%)
Vert- 33” (22%)
Broad- 121” (50%)
3C- 7.02s (40%)
Bench- 8 (6%) PD

Awards

Second-team All-Big 12 (2024)

Scorecard

Speed- 55
Acceleration- 69
Agility- 60
Strength- 52
Catching- 78
Route Running- 74
YAC- 69
Blocking- 52
Discipline- 87

THE GOOD

• Has sharp cuts and well-timed breaks which makes him a reliable target, particularly on third downs.
• Possesses strong ball skills, with a notable ability to track and adjust to the ball mid-air.
• Effective with his hands which contributes to his proficiency in contested catch situations.
• Has experience lining up both outside and in the slot showing good versatility.

THE BAD

• Limited athlete.
• Has struggles against press coverage, often facing challenges with physical defenders during his release.
• While he has good vision post-catch, his limited explosiveness and contact balance can hinder his yards-after-catch potential.

THE FIT

Josh Kelly’s technical skills and experience make him a depth candidate in the NFL. His proficiency in route-running and reliable hands could allow him to contribute on special teams or as a slot receiver in pass-heavy offenses. However, his athletic limitations may require him to excel in specific roles where his strengths can be maximized.

Kelly’s strengths lie in his precise route-running, dependable hands, and ability to find soft spots in zone coverage. His experience operating primarily from the slot where he took over 90% of his snaps aligns with the Cowboys’ need for depth behind CeeDee Lamb in the slot position.

His athletic skills raise concerns about his ability to separate from NFL-caliber defenders. Due to these major limitations Kelly will be fighting for a position on the practice squad. His path to the active roster would likely depend on standout performances in training camp and preseason games, particularly on special teams or in specialized offensive roles.

COMPARISON:

Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals

BTB GRADE:

429th

CONSENSUS RANKING:

389th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)