Brett's Cowboys Corner

The Cowboys spent their off-season adding depth at key positions where they have experienced free agents moving on for the past two years. Arguably none of those additions will be considered immediate starters, all can be considered replaceable and just a way to fill out the roster. They need bodies to dress 48 players on game day.

The Cowboys will head into the NFL Draft in four days. While many consider the Cowboys to need everything in this draft, there are four positions the Cowboys absolutely need to walk away with in this draft. Here is how they can cover those spots with their first four picks.

Running Back

The Cowboys lose Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott. One was a 1,000 yard rusher and the other was on his way out. The Cowboys add Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.

Williams is looking for a resurgence after his ACL injury, he could be a solid 3rd down back, with upside as a receiver. I don’t see him being an every down back and he will need to share the back field.

Sanders had a big fall off, after a 1k yard season with Philly he took a tumble in the two years with Carolina. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t make the 53 man roster, he may just a training camp guy to get some reps and be on the practice squad.

I think Ashton Jeanty would be the clear cut pick here, but there shouldn’t exist a world where he falls to 12, if he is available, I need Jerry to get in that helicopter and fly to Green Bay to make sure that card gets turned in properly.

Pick 12 (R1): Omarion Hampton – North Carolina, 6’0″ 221 lbs

The rumor for Hampton at 12 has been floating around for a few months now. Primarily headed by Mel Kiper (what the heck does he know anyway??) Kiper was correct about a few Cowboys picks early in past years, including being one of the only guys to mock Tyler Smith to Dallas in 2022. Hampton is a one cut back, with great contact balance. Every move he makes is meaningful.

Pick 44 (R2): Treveyon Henderson – Ohio State, 5’10” 202 lbs

Henderson is projected to be a three-down back with his upside as a receiver being a key to him being a rookie starter. He plays with great acceleration and can make quick cuts to free him in space. Henderson is a safety valve in the backfield and has great ball security.

Pick 76 (R3): Quinshon Judkins – Ohio State, 6’0″ 221 lbs

The viral photo of Judkins with Jerry Jones floated around. After a great visit with the Cowboys, this could be a guy to add to a rotational running back room. Judkins was the rotational piece at Ohio State but showed ability to be a violent runner and shifty with the ball in his hand.

Pick 149 (R5): Bhayshul Tuten – Virginia Tech, 5’9″ 206 lbs

In the 5th round you will be looking for guys with traits that you can build on. Tuten has a skill that you can’t teach…speed. He is a small back with great breakaway speed, he showed that speed off at the Combine with a 4.32 40-yard dash. Often with small fast guys, they get in trouble with balance and are easy to knock over or trip up. Not Tuten, he has great contact balance and can recover quickly. Bhayshul Tuten was one of the only late round running backs invited as 30-visit for the Cowboys.

Wide Receiver

The Cowboys lost Brandin Cooks and added Parris Campbell. Veteran for veteran.

Campbell’s most productive season was in 2022 with 623 yards. This addition was a solid veteran set of hands to add for training camp and potentially be a depth chart piece. The Cowboys will tell us they expect more development from Jalen Tolbert and a big jump from Johnathan Mingo, who they traded this years 4th round pick for.

If we can look at this truthfully, this WR room has huge bust potential. They need a solid #2 receiver to help take the pressure off Ceedee Lamb. This position will most likely be address in round one, with Tetoria McMillan being the guy I would take…but if the draft is done properly, McMillan shouldn’t be available at 12.

Pick 12 (R1): Matthew Golden – Texas, 5’11” 191 lbs

The name that has become more and more linked with Dallas at 12. Golden adds something that the Cowboys lack, a speedy outside receiver with great hands and ability to be a deep threat. After their visit, Golden talked about how impactful the interview with Jerry Jones was and recalled a moment where Jerry had him call his mom in the middle of the interview, so Jerry could tell her how great of a person she raised.

Pick 44 (R2): Elic Ayomanor -Stanford, 6’2″ 206 lbs

The Canadian receiver received offers from all of the top Ivy League schools. A high IQ academically which translates to breaking down coverages on the field. Ayomanor possess a great ability to high point the ball and make contested catches. He has the straight line speed to get over top of the safety and make a big play. He experienced poor QB play his entire time at Stanford, but his outstanding catch radius helped him be productive.

Pick 76 (R3): Tre Harris – Ole Miss, 6’2″ 205 lbs

Another great addition to pair along Ceedee Lamb. Harris would step in as an outside receiver and be the more physical player. He has strong hands, works well on slants and go routes. He is a fluid mover that always fights for the ball and he saw plenty of production at Ole Miss.

Pick 149 (R5): Kyle Williams – Washington State, 5’11” 190 lbs

Here is a shifty route runner that plays with great burst. He played as an outside receiver but may project better in the slot of the pro level. He gets downfield and makes plays. He had a 58% success rate on catches 20 yards or more downfield. This guy finds the endzone, he was no. 4 in the FBS for receiving TDs with 14.

Defensive Tackle

The Cowboys added Solomon Thomas and resigned Osa Odighizuwa as 3-tech DTs. Dallas only has Mazi Smith and Justin Rogers as true nose DTs.

The one spot the Cowboys locked up this free agency was the 3-tech DT spot, which is when an interior defensive linemen lines up against the outside shoulder of an offensive guard. Osa has held this starting role for the past few seasons and Solomon Thomas comes in a as a great depth piece.

For the nose defensive tackle or 1-tech. The big guy that usually lines up right across the center. The Cowboys lack a true impactful piece here. Mazi Smith plays that role currently and will likely have one more year to try to be impactful but he is floating toward the bust category.

If the Cowboys decide to skip out on one of these positions of need…I think it will be this one. They will tell us that Mazi will be the guy, and Matt Eberflus already mentioned his excitement to work with Mazi. I fear this could be the most fatal mistake of the 2025 Cowboys (a team who can’t stop the run) they won’t bring in anyone better than Mazi…but someone who is about equal, so Mazi can build confidence by winning the job in camp.

Pick 12 (R1): Kenneth Grant – Michigan 6’3″ 330 lbs

Many Cowboys fans will be upset with another Michigan defensive linemen. But it is important to note that Michigan had a completely different defensive scheme after Mazi Smiths time, and this player is different. This is a great moving big man who can push the pocket and create pressure

Pick 44 (R2): Walter Nolen – Ole Miss 6’3″ 300 lbs

A 30-vist for the Cowboys, a great topic for discussion. He is a smaller sized defensive tackle that will line up over the center. This is generally the frame Matt Eberflus, new Cowboys DC looks for in a DT. He has an explosive first step and makes plays as a run defender.

Pick 76 (R3): Alfred Collins – Texas, 6’6″ 332 lbs

The other 30-visit at the DT spot for Dallas. This is a big guy but can move his weight well. He is disruptive in run defense with great play recognition. Last year he had 55 successful tackles with just two missed tackles. This is durable guy playing 64 of 65 games at Texas.

Pick 149 (R5): Jamaree Caldwell – Oregon, 6’2″ 332 lbs

Carries his weight well, Caldwell could add nicely to the rotation of 1-tech defensive tackles for Dallas. He packs a powerful punch. He started every game for Oregon and was a consistent presence. He has the ability to line up at a wide defensive tackle spot in a 4-3 defense as well.

Cornerback

The Cowboys lost an impactful slot corner in Jourdan Lewis. They traded for Kaiir Elam, a guy who was a former first round pick that didn’t work out in Buffalo.

This position is a sneaky need for the Cowboys. As the starters are already here. But if you tuned into last season, you saw a secondary that experienced one injury and fell apart. The depth at this position does not feature real NFL players, and they got torched for it.

With the two starting outside corners, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland both experiencing major injuries recently, the Cowboys will need to make it a priority to get help behind them. The addition of Elam helps the outside. The slot corner (or nickel back) spot needs some more reinforcements. Now you have Israel Mukuamu, who plays hybrid safety to back up the spot, and 2nd-year Caelen Carson to start in the slot.

If Dallas can add a top tier cornerback, they will be protected from injuries. They can either add an outside corner and move DaRon Bland back inside or keep Bland put by adding a slot corner.

Pick 12 (R1): Will Johnson – Michigan, 6’1″ 194 lbs

A great coverage corner who operates best in man coverage. He has been rumored as a potential pick for Dallas if they went defense at 12. He was considered the best cornerback of this class going into the 2024 season. But his 2024 campaign did not back up the year he had in 2023. There has been some questions about his long speed, and considering he refused to run a 40-yard dash at the Combine or Pro Day workouts may scare some teams.

Pick 44 (R2): Shavon Revel Jr. – East Carolina, 6’1″ 202 lbs

Arguably the best coverage corner in this entire class. Many media scouts say Revel would be the unquestioned number 1 CB in this years class. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL and partial meniscus tear during practice in September. He only played 3 games in 2024 and had 2 interceptions. This is a classic Cowboys 2nd rounder, a first round talent with a major injury. Revel was the only reported CB to attend a 30-visit…look at that.

Pick 76 (R3): Mello Dotson – Kansas, 6’1 183 lbs

A natural feel for the ball, and makes QBs pay for poor throws. He is best in zone coverage and has smooth feet to keep up with receivers and to make cuts toward the ball. He was a consistent player for Kansas and would be a great slot corner for Dallas.

Pick 149 (R5): Alijah Huzzie – North Carolina, 5’10” 193 lbs

A slot restricted corner because of his size. Huzzie has tremendous ball skills, he catches the ball with ease (16 career INTs) and has the ability to break up quick passes. He moves his with body control and balance. He has good patience and reads the WR well.

Note: I don’t consider offensive guard an absolute need because the Cowboys added three free agents and have depth they believe can compete for a starting role. I don’t think they will attack offensive line with a top pick this year.