Cowboys news: Trades and surprise positions of need all still in play for Dallas in draft
All the Dallas Cowboys news that’s fit to print.
2025 NFL Draft: Giants, Browns and Titans headline nine teams that need to ace their picks this April - Eric Edholm, NFL.com
It is fair to say the Cowboys still have a long way to go to be competitive in Brian Schottenheimer’s first year.
Rank 8 Dallas Cowboys
Total draft picks: 10
It has been a strange few years for the Cowboys. The offseason passivity is nothing new — just ask Dallas fans about it — but that has led to growing frustration, especially after the rival Eagles dominated in the Super Bowl. A coaching change from Mike McCarthy to Brian Schottenheimer has only muddied the waters, even if it turns out to be the right move.
Taking care of the team’s own stars has been a necessary measure, and that effort continues as the Cowboys try to lock up Micah Parsons long term with a contract that likely will set a record for non-QBs. So far, the most interesting moves the Cowboys have made have been of the low-risk, potentially high-reward variety, such as buying low on former higher picks like Kenneth Murray Jr., Kaiir Elam, Javonte Williams and Solomon Thomas and trading for Joe Milton. Expecting all those additions to hit would be specious, at best. The Cowboys still have some sizable holes on both sides of the ball. On defense, they might need more run stoppers and help in the secondary. On offense, they could use playmakers at running back and receiver.
The Eagles and Commanders are the current heavyweights of the division, while the Giants signed Russell Wilson and figure to be big players in the draft. The Cowboys must find ways to add talent between now and August to give Schottenheimer a chance Year 1.
Cowboys predicted to make surprise pick to push former first-rounder - Randy Gurzi, SI.com
The Cowboys not addressing defense at all in the first three rounds may be a surprise, but a haul of WR, RB, and OT is one possible path.
2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton is slated to hold down the left tackle position, but his rookie campaign was full of ups and downs. Dallas is hopeful he can find more consistency in year two, but they have no backup plan with Chuma Edoga leaving in NFL free agency.
That’s why Athlon Sport’s Luke Easterling has the Cowboys targeting Jackson Slater in his latest 4-round NFL mock draft.
Easterling has Dallas taking the Sacramento State offensive tackle at No. 76 overall, with Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan going to the Cowboys at pick No. 12 and Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson at No. 44.
Slater has climbed draft boards as of late, which started when he held his own during the Senior Bowl. In addition to his strength and technical skill, scouts like his versatility. Slater played all over the line, including center, making him an ideal backup.
As a Round 3 pick, however, the Cowboys would like to see Slater develop into a starting-caliber player. Even if this accomplishes nothing more than pushing Guyton to reach his potential.
4 Cowboys with a lot to lose in upcoming draft - Jess Haynie, Blogging The Boys
It feels like the days of Jalen Tolbert being high on the depth chart at WR could be coming to an end after the draft.
WR Jalen Tolbert
Right now, Tolbert is Dallas’ other starting receiver by default. That could still be true if we get out of the first three rounds without a new addition. But if Arizona’s Tet McMillan makes it to the 12th pick, it’s highly likely that he’ll become a Cowboy. Dallas could also trade down with the thought of targeting Matthew Golden, Luther Burden, or Emeka Egbuka.
There are still players on Friday night who could come in and challenge Tolbert for WR2, but it’s not a given. Even some of the first-round guys we just named are considered better Robins than Batmans, and Tolbert has three years of experience going for him in any competition.
At the very least, Tolbert’s odds of being ousted by a veteran free agent are getting lower. Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper are the only ones left with much respect on their names. Allen is about to turn 33 and Cooper has a checkered past, meaning Dallas may not be interested in either. So while he’ll probably still be WR2 when the draft starts, Tolbert could easily fall down the depth chart by the end of the first night.
How soon is too soon for the Cowboys to pick a DT in the 2025 NFL draft? - Reid Hanson, The Cowboys Wire
The Cowboys of old would likely feel set at DT going into the draft with Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas, but the new Schottenheimer and Matt Eberflus staff could see it differently.
Defensive tackle happens to be a major need on the Cowboys this offseason. The first month of free agency has done little to address this need making the upcoming draft Dallas’ best way to take steps forward in their defensive interior. If positions like receiver, cornerback, defensive end and possibly offensive tackle are all taking priority, defensive tackle looks to lose out big in 2025.
There’s no reason not to trust what Schottenheimer has been telling reporters.
His idea of targeting gamechangers early seems to mesh with the front office’s tendencies of the past. Based on comments speaking directly to Dallas’ first round pick, No. 12 overall, the Cowboys are categorizing this early selection separately from previous first-round picks that have fallen in the back portion of the draft. It stands to reason their outside-in strategy applies predominantly to that No. 12 pick and doesn’t necessarily prevent them from addressing an inside position as soon as Day 2.
The 2025 draft class is rich in DT talent and should feature significant role players deep into Round 3. 1-techs typically slip in drafts because they are more run-focused and one-dimensional than their 3-tech counterparts. Since the Cowboys are specifically, but not exclusively, in the market for someone who can play 1-tech, it speaks well to their ability to find one in the middle parts of the draft.
A look at the profiles from this years draft class versus last years (per @fball_insights) gives you an idea of how great this years DT prospects are.
— Tristan Duarte (@Trisduar1) February 27, 2025
There's a reason why 41 DTs were invited to the combine in 2025, and just 25 were in 2024.
Deep & loaded class. pic.twitter.com/xv4kbjIWLY
Dallas Cowboys pull off huge trade in latest two-round NFL Mock Draft and land unpopular first round prospect - Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports
The Cowboys trading back for tackle Tyler Guyton last year made the pick more popular, and the same could happen with trading back from 12 to take a running back this time.
Adams’ prediction? The Cowboys strike a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And it’s quite a profitable one as Dallas lands a 83rd overall and the Steelers’ 2026 second-round pick while moving back from 12th to 21st.
As for the Cowboys? They end up taking an unpopular route and land RB Quinshon Judkins, making him the third player at his position taken in the Draft. Below is Adams’ breakdown of the pick:
The Cowboys missing out on the top two RBs in the class led them to make a big trade-down in this mock. But I still think RB would be a position to watch for. Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins is a player who has gained a lot of first-round buzz over the past few weeks. The league is high on this RB class, and the need across the league at the position could very well lead to more hearing their names called in round one than people realize. Judkins would pencil in as the Cowboys’ day-one starter and has true three-down bell-cow potential.
Picking a first-round running back not named Ashton Jeanty or Omarion Hampton would be as controversial as it gets. But what we know is the Cowboys are expected to emphasize the run game under head coach Brian Schottenheimer and we are very much aware that right now, they don’t have a proven starter on the depth chart.
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