Cowboys 2025 Draft: Day 3 recap of the final six picks

Saturday was a good day for the Cowboys

The Cowboys came into Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft with seven picks and left with six players. Let’s summarize Dallas’ activity in the final rounds.

The worst part of the day was starting at the top of the fourth round and knowing the Cowboys wouldn’t be picking again until the middle of the fifth. They’d previously given up this year’s fourth to acquire WR Jonathan Mingo from the Panthers last season. And it became extra painful when so many running backs were taken before Dallas was back on the clock.

Thankfully, all the good ones weren’t gone.

#149 (5th) – Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas

Dallas kept it in-state with the Houston native and Longhorn speedster. One of the fastest backs in the class, Blue had third-round grades from some and offers versatility as a runner and receiver. He should immediately challenge for the lead role as long as he can improve ball security, which was a major knock coming out of college.

Here’s a sample of Blue’s speed from last December:

#152 (5th) – Shemar James, LB, Florida

A few spots later, Dallas moved up from 174th to 152nd (sacrificing the 211th pick) to select the former Gator. While they’ve added some run-stuffing linebackers in free agency this offseason, the Cowboys were still hurting for more guys in the rotation. James has ample athleticism to defend in the passing game but needs to further develop his technical skills, as most Day 3 picks do.

#204 (6th) – Ajani Cornelius, OL, Oregon

Dallas surprisingly added another piece to the offensive line with Cornelius. While he played right tackle at Oregon, Cornerlius is projected more as an interior blocker in the pros. He has the size and athleticism to move around the line but needs significant work improvement to handle any OL duties at this level. He fits the mold, like first-round pick Tyler Booker, as the Cowboys move toward a power run game under Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams.

#217 (7th) – Jay Toia, DT, UCLA

A true nose tackle, the 342-lb Toia could walk into an immediate role as a run-stuffer for the Cowboys’ defensive line. He’s hard to move but also not the best mover, which may limit how much he can get on the field. But with Dallas’ current lack of DT depth, he stands to challenge for a key role early.

#239 (7th) – Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson

The Cowboys added some thunder to Jaydon Blue’s lightning with Mafah, a 234-lb bruiser from the Tigers. While not a creator with the ball, he’ll eat what’s served to him by the blocking up front and finishes plays aggressively. At the least, he should provide a much-needed option for short yardage and goal line plays.

#247 (7th) – Tommy Akingbesote, DT, Maryland

With their last pick, Dallas again addressed its DT depth concerns with Akingbesote. An all-around tackle with size and athleticism, the former Terrapin is seen as a raw prospect with solid developmental potential. For a seventh-round pick, he has a decent shot at making the Cowboys’ roster with only other late-round and undrafted prospects like Justin Rogers and Denzel Daxon to contend with.