The Dallas Cowboys have another new offensive lineman in Ajani Cornelius
With the 204th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected OL Ajani Cornelius.
The Cowboys beef up their offensive line with another draft pick.
Overview
A durable lineman with NFL traits and four years of starting experience, Cornelius lacks standout flashes on tape. He has been a full-time right tackle but lacks protection talent to stay outside as a pro. He has access to physical tools but needs to play with better bend and hand quickness to help stabilize his play. He can cover up defenders with size but is frequently out-leveraged at the point of attack. His average body control and slide quickness should be mitigated in smaller spaces but those issues will still be concerning against explosive interior rushers. The traits should make him a Day 3 target, but his ceiling might be as a backup.
Strengths
Good heft in lower half with broad waist and long arms.
Rolls hips into angle blocks and runs his feet.
Clean skip-pulls to get around the corner as a lead blocker.
Able to set a late anchor if needed.
Big hands gain wrist control at the point of attack.
Long arms can buy him time when the punch is timed well.
Weaknesses
Subpar foot quickness and body control in space.
Tardy with hand strike and beaten to placement.
Drive power and contact balance sapped by tall pad level.
Doesn’t play with enough control of hands/feet in protection.
Gets knocked backward and into the pocket by power.
Mirror can get pretty raggedy against counters.
Cowboys 2025 draft picks:
- Round 1, pick 12 – G Tyler Booker (Alabama)
- Round 2, pick 44 – DE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)
- Round 3, pick 76 – CB Shavon Revel (East Carolina)
- Round 5, pick 149 – RB Jaydon Blue (Texas)
- Round 5, pick 152 – LB Shemar James (Florida)
- Round 6, pick 204 – OL Ajani Cornelius (Oregon)
- Round 7, pick 217
- Round 7, pick 239
- Round 7, pick 247
Cowboys needs:
WR: The Cowboys need an offensive complement to CeeDee Lamb with Brandin Cooks leaving in free agency.
RB: The additions of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders won’t stop the team from searching for a potential RB1 in this draft.
CB: Trevon Diggs’ injury, Jourdan Lewis’ departure in free agency, and DaRon Bland becoming a free agent next season means the team needs help. The current depth is lackluster.
DT: The 1-tech spot at the moment is Mazi Smith and not much else. Dallas should certainly look to add a draft prospect here.
OL: The Cowboys have most of the line filled in, but there is a chance they want a young player to compete for the right guard position.
LB: The Cowboys made some additions in the offseason to fill a thin position, but they could use another talented young player to put in the mix.
