Ex SMU WR Gets Cowboys Opportunity

SMU football has another former playmaker getting an NFL shot, and this one comes with a little extra Dallas intrigue.

The Dallas Cowboys are signing former Mustangs wide receiver Romello Brinson after bringing him in for a workout Monday, according to Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com.

READ MORE: Former MLB First-Rounder Joins SMU Football

The move comes shortly after veteran receiver Parris Campbell retired, opening a spot on the offseason roster.

For Brinson, it’s a fresh chance to crash a wide receiver room that still feels far from settled behind the top names.

The Cowboys already knew plenty about the former SMU target. Dallas showed pre-draft interest in Brinson and even took him to dinner after SMU’s Pro Day.

His former Mustangs teammate Jordan Hudson, another receiver on the Cowboys’ offseason roster, was also part of that meeting.

Brinson brings size, speed and an NFL bloodline. He’s the nephew of former Cincinnati Bengals star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, who confirmed the family connection on X. But the Cowboys aren’t signing him for the last name. They’re betting on traits.

At 6-2 and 190 pounds, Brinson profiles as a vertical threat who can stretch the field and create yards after the catch.

His best college season came in 2025 at SMU, when he caught 43 passes for 638 yards and three touchdowns.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein had Brinson projected as an undrafted free agent and described both the upside and the concern.

“Brinson is a field-stretcher, but the middle of his route tree is missing branches,” Zierlein said.

“He’s a long-strider with good acceleration to build speed and create opportunities for himself on vertical routes.”

Zierlein also noted that Brinson’s route-running can be limited underneath and that he doesn’t win enough contested catches despite his size.

That’s the challenge in Dallas. Brinson has real tools, but he’ll need to prove quickly that he can offer more than speed. A lack of return experience doesn’t help his roster case, either.

READ MORE: Ex SMU QB Gets Bills Shot

Still, with the Cowboys’ back-end receiver competition wide open, Brinson has a legitimate path to at least push for a practice squad spot.

For the former SMU standout, OTAs are where the fight starts.

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