Brett's Cowboys Corner

All nine draft picks for the Cowboys 2025 class have signed their contracts and will begin rookie minicamp at the Star this week.

The Cowboys came into the draft with a lot of needs and they addressed many despite leaving off the need for wide receiver. Dallas focused on grabbing the best player available each time they went up to pick.

In reality they had needs all over the team, and used this draft to grab players they believe can come in and be impactful in year one. Here’s our each pick can play a role in 2025.

Tyler Booker (R1) and Ajani Cornelius (R6)

Going into the draft:

The Cowboys added three offensive linemen in free agency, Robert Jones, Saahdiq Charles, and Hakeem Adeniji. Many members of the media believed that this was an indicator that Dallas would not prioritize adding an offensive linemen in the draft. But one of their best prospects fell to them at 12 with Tyler Booker.

The picks:

Booker is a powerful player who has played at a high level at big programs (IMG Academy and Alabama) his entire life. I believe Booker can come in a be good enough to be a rookie pro bowler. Coach Schottenheimer stands by his team motto, “Compete Every Day” and says Booker will have to earn the starting job, but he also noted that Booker has had to win the job at every level and it’s never been a problem.

Cornelius was an interesting pick in the 6th round. Clearly it shows that the Cowboys were not happy about their offensive line from 2024, and are looking to rework the room. Cornelius is defined as a ‘right side player’ as he played right tackle and right guard his whole life. He will need to be a developmental piece and can be a future option at right tackle.

What this means:

The Cowboys have 15 offensive linemen on the roster. Typically you only keep 9-12 on the 53-man roster. With the new additions, guys like Matt Waletzko, Dakoda Shepley and T.J. Bass will be fighting to stay around.

The starting five will likely be: Guyton, Smith, Beebe, Booker, Steele. Though Coach Schottenheimer said he wants to start the best five, and mentioned that guys could move around. This could be good news for the camp that believes Tyler Smith should be the left tackle over Guyton. The Cowboys will figure out the depth behind them with the new signees and not to forget Brock Hoffman and Asim Richards.

Shavon Revel Jr. (R3)

Going into the draft:

The rumor going into draft weekend, Dallas is concerned about the health of their cornerback room and wanted to add someone early. They lost Jourdan Lewis in free agency who played in the slot. But they added Kaiir Elam in a trade from Buffalo, but Elam typically plays outside. The health of Trevon Diggs is concerning and he will not be ready for week one.

The pick:

Revel was graded as one of the top corners of this years draft class. By many, he should have been taken earlier in the draft. The main concern with Revel was his torn ACL he suffered in practice back in September. He missed his senior season at East Carolina. Though when healthy, he is a very ball productive boundry corner.

What this means:

Revel will be working back from injury and get some light work in training camp. Baring a setback, he will be ready to go for week one. We could see DaRon Bland move back into the slot corner spot or Isreal Mukuamu, who recently received a contract extension, he last started in the slot against Tampa Bay on WildCard weekend, where he played well.

Kaiir Elam would start the year on the boundary along with Revel until Diggs gets back. We could also see last years rookie, Caelen Carson get some work early on. Kemon Hall and Troy Pride Jr both could help out in the slot if they decide to keep Bland outside.

Jaydon Blue (R5) and Phil Mafah (R7)

Going into the draft:

Last years running back room was lackluster, and now you lost your best rusher Rico Dowdle. The Cowboys added Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency. Those aren’t necessarily starting caliber, 3-down backs. They are both trying to get back to better seasons they have had in the past. Fans hoped that Dallas would add a RB early on in the draft, but they waited and waited.

The picks:

On day three, Dallas double dipped at running back. Jaydon Blue is considered a steal in this years draft. He plays with incredible acceleration and has big play ability as a runner and receiver. He fell because of his lack of workload. Some teams are concerned about him not receiving carries and being ‘benched’ at Texas. This happened because early on in the season, he had a major fumbling problem. But in the long playoff run, Blue came back in the rotation.

Phil Mafah will be more a developmental piece, but he is known as a power runner. He puts the shoulder down and gets his gains by running defenders over. He projects more as a practice squad guy, unless he can show some tackling ability with his large frame to get work on special teams.

What this means:

This position can be easier to project because of the limited roster size it is given. If you include a full back, there are 3-4 running backs on the roster. Hunter Luepke, still projects as the starting full back role and has been used in short yardage, power rushing plays. I see Williams being the ‘starter’ since he’s the veteran in the room. But this will be a fully rotational position. Blue will contribute as a pass catcher right away combined with his burst. So that is three already, Williams, Blue, Luepke. A fourth spot may go to Miles Sanders if he shows enough in camp, but he may be the veteran to keep around on the practice squad. That leaves Deuce Vaughn as an odd man out, unless he has a big jump at camp, it will be hard to find spot for him.

Donovan Ezeiruaku (R2)

Going into the draft:

The edge spot was not a huge need for Dallas. With the signing of Dante Fowler, hopefully replacing the departure of Demarcus Lawrence. Dallas would be looking at injury returns from Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland to join Micah Parsons on the edge. But in the second round, a first round caliber talent fell to them.

The pick:

Ezeiruaku is a pure pass rusher with 16 sacks last year at Boston College. He has the moves to be impactful as a rookie, but will be limited to pass rush only situations as he will develop as a run stopper.

What this means:

Dallas will likely start Micah Parsons and Dante Fowler initially on the edge. But they now have three straight years of drafting edge rushers in the second round, with Williams and Kneeland, they hope they can eventually become starters. It would be best if Kneeland could take that jump as he is already a solid run stopper, which contrasts nicely with Parsons. Coach Eberflus and DL Coach Whitecotton believe keeping a constant rotation at defensive line. So expect to see a little bit of everyone out there.

Jay Toia (R7) and Tommy Akingbesote (R7)

Going into the draft:

The Cowboys singed Osa Odighizuwa to an extension and added Solomon Thomas and Payton Turner to the rotation. Dallas focused on adding good depth to the DT room but they lack the big interior prescence. The main 1-tech DT is Mazi Smith, who Coach Eberflus said he was excited to work with. But the former 1st round pick needs to make a major jump in camp. I feared the Cowboys would not add to the DT room with talent better than Mazi, but instead add guys who are on the same level that Mazi could beat.

The picks:

Toia and Akingbesote are developmental pieces that played nose tackle and will hopefully develop as run stoppers. Toia at 342 pounds and Akingbesote at 306 pounds.

What this means:

Much like the edge rushers, Eberflus and Whitecotton are looking to constantly have rotations with their defensive line. It will be interesting to see how they handle the 1-tech spot as its Mazi and unproven guys like the rookies and late round pick last year, Justin Rogers. Though at the 3-tech spot, there is plenty of depth with Osa, Thomas and Turner.

Shemar James (R5)

Going into the draft:

This linebacker class did not stand out on paper. So there is no surprise that the Cowboys waited on this position despite the need. The Cowboys will wait on the return of Demarvion Overshown. Dallas added Kenneth Murray and the former Bears linebacker (familiar with Eberflus) Jack Sanborn.

The pick:

James is only 20 years old and a speedy linebacker who just needs to be taught where to run. He is all over the field but needs to work on his play diagnosis and instincts. He could see a role on special teams and barring injuries might be able to see play time at an off ball LB spot.

What this means:

Dallas is relying on the ability of Sanborn and Murray to keep this linebacker room alive and able to stop the run. Overall this position group has the most uncertainty among the rest. This is where the schematics of Eberflus will need to prevail.