Cowboys 2025 draft: 5 risers and 5 fallers from the combine

The NFL Combine adjusted how we view certain draft prospects.

With this year’s NFL scouting combine signed, sealed and delivered, it’s time to look at how the prospects did. Plenty of risers have made themselves known, but also a handful of prospects seriously underwhelmed. Here are our top five risers and fallers from the combine that could have been prospects of interest for the Cowboys.

Risers

Shemar Stewart
Defensive Line
Texas A&M

Stewart came into the combine already carrying a moniker of being an athletic freak and has some serious talent as an edge defender. He completely dominated the testing phase and made the biggest impact during the week-long event, finishing with a perfect RAS Score of 10.00. At 265 pounds, Stewart pulled off an impressive 1.58s 10-yard split that was polished off with an even more impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.59s. On the jumps, Stewart was even more eye-popping and hopped a vert of 40”, then exploded a broad jump of 10’ 11” which is insane. Add his measurables and also some smooth drills, and Stewart fits a need at defensive line for Dallas and ticks a whole host of boxes to fit right in. Keep an eye on his name during the 30-visits and Dallas Day.

Bhayshul Tuten
Running Back
Virginia Tech

Tuten showcased exceptional speed at the combine, recording the fastest 40-yard dash among running backs at 4.32 seconds (98th percentile). His athleticism was on full display with a 1.49s 10-yard split and had vertical and broad jumps that were both in the 98th percentile. His skill set and speed has the potential to contribute immediately and should have caught the attention of the Cowboys’ scouting department. With running back a need and Tuten sitting currently with a fourth-round grade, selecting him early with a third-round pick would be a great selection for Dallas that has no pick in Day 3 until the fifth-round.

Matthew Golden
Wide Receiver
Houston

Golden solidified his status as a first-round prospect by leading all wide receivers with a 4.29-second 40-yard dash. His speed and playmaking ability could provide the Cowboys with a deep-threat option, complementing their existing receiving corps and filling the loss of Brandin Cooks was brought in to be a downfield threat.

Jahdae Barron
Cornerback
Texas

Barron’s versatility in the defensive backfield was on display at the combine. Having played both cornerback and nickel positions at Texas (playing the “Star” role), he possesses adaptability that the Cowboys’ defense could really utilize this season. His ability to perform in multiple roles makes him a valuable asset for teams seeking depth and flexibility in their secondary. With questions on Trevor Diggs’ health and Jourdan Lewis’ free agency, taking a skilled and multifaceted defensive back like Barron would be a smart move. Likely best suited to the slot or nickelback position in the NFL, at worst Barron fits in nicely as Lewis’ replacement.

Jihaad Campbell
Linebacker
Alabama

Campbell’s athleticism and performance at the combine have elevated his draft stock on a monumental scale. He clocked a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, ranking as the third-best time of the day. Interestingly, the two athletes who outpaced him both weighed more than 10 pounds less. Just as important for Campbell were the on-field drills where he moved very fluidly and proved he has some pass rush upside. His potential to enhance the Cowboys’ linebacker corps makes him a prospect worth considering, especially with the fact that DeMarvion Overshown will miss the majority of the season and Eric Kendricks is likely to move on with the departure of Mike Zimmer. That leaves Marist Liufau as the only linebacker on roster who took significant snaps last season.

Fallers

Tyler Booker
Guard
Alabama

Booker was considered as the top guard prospect in the draft before the combine, but his struggles were apparent all day and his athletic testing gave a dangerously low RAS Score of just 3.93. What was just as concerning was his issues during the various drills, showing balance and technique problems which will have led to a reevaluation of his draft value. His underwhelming performance has already resulted in a slide down draft boards for most teams, Dallas more than likely following that trend. The hope for some fans was Booker could be the future replacement for the recently retired Zack Martin. Now, Will McClay and company will need to reevaluate and find a suitable inside offensive lineman in later rounds.

Will Howard
Quarterback
Ohio State

The Cowboys are in the market for a backup quarterback in this year’s draft. Stephen Jones let the world know of this fact last week. One player of interest before the combine would have been Will Howard from Ohio State. Despite a stellar collegiate career, Howard struggled with accuracy during the combine, missing multiple passes, including deep throws. Take into account Howard was throwing to open receivers with no defense on the field or pressure in his face adds to this concerning revelation. This unexpected performance led to widespread criticism and could affect his draft position. For any Buckeye fans wanting to see their National Champion quarterback play in Dallas, be prepared to feel deflated.

Jamaree Caldwell
Defensive Lineman
Oregon

Caldwell’s lackluster testing and concerns about his physical attributes, such as limited length, have negatively impacted his draft outlook. His performance at the combine did little to alleviate these concerns and his stock will take a huge hit after watching what he put together. His lack of explosion and power was always a question and he blew a 10-yard split of 1.64s (16%), and managed a poor vertical jump of just 27” (36%). Right now he’s a pure run-stopping nose tackle, and that’s fine, but that limits his stock value and will drop him out as a top-100 prospect. His athletic testing proved his limitations, his drills proved he has the movement skills.

Tez Johnson
Wide Receiver
Oregon

Johnson’s weigh-in at 154 pounds marked him as the lightest wide receiver at the combine since 2010. This raised concerns about his durability to withstand the physicality of the NFL, potentially diminishing his appeal to teams like the Cowboys seeking robust receiving options.

In defense of Johnson, there’s a very common scouting phrase which is “tape matters”. His athletic testing was very concerning in the speed phase where he ran a very slow 4.51s time in the 40-yard dash, which has him practically the same speed and Jihaad Campbell who’s nearly 100 pounds heavier. Johnson did test out well on the agility scores and had an elite three-cone time. The testing will put doubt in general managers minds, and that will have dropped his stock. Let’s see what his pro day can bring to light.

Will Campbell
Offensive Lineman
LSU

Campbell’s stock fell due to his projection as an offensive tackle in the NFL. His arm length measured at 32 5/8 inches, well below the minimal requirements coaches look for in tackles. This may lead teams to consider him for a guard position, potentially affecting his top-5 draft status despite his exceptional performance in other areas. Dallas are in the market for an offensive tackle, possibly even a guard, but taking an inside offensive lineman in the first round with the 12th overall pick may be too rich. That puts Campbell in purgatory right now as to where he fits and ranks amongst offensive linemen in this year’s class, and that’s not good for a stock value.