Final 2025 NFL draft grades: Dallas Cowboys “building a bully”

From everything we’ve seen over the last three days, the Cowboys have been picking from the top of their board the entire time and have been rewarded with outstanding value in the 2025 draft.

New Cowboys OC Klayton Adams, appearing on the Dallas Cowboys Draft Show show, talked about how impressive their BPA Approach has been on

“There doesn’t seem to be a lot of reaching in that draft room. There’s no panic.”

Stephen Jones was pleased with how much the team leaned on their board.

“The best thing we may have done it better than we have ever done it is stick to it,” Jones said. “There were opportunities there where we had to go away from needs and just take the best player… I think it all came together well and it worked out good for us.”

The Cowboys did not address every gap on their roster, though they double-dipped on both lines and on running backs, and will need to look for some veteran additions as they head into the season, but their failure to pick a wide receiver anywhere weighs heavily on the public perception of the Cowboys draft effort and the corresponding grades, even if it’s unclear how a 6th- or 7th-round WR would have significantly improved their 2025 fortunes.

The Cowboys are leaving the door open for a veteran addition at the spot.

For the first time since 2020, the Cowboys did not draft a wide receiver, a spot where Dallas has admitted they’ve been looking for an “explosive” second option to pair with CeeDee Lamb. The front office has reiterated time and time again that player acquisition is a cycle that is always ongoing for Dallas, and the addition of a receiver via trade or free agency is still on the table.

“It was definitely a big time thought,” Jerry Jones said when asked if wide receiver was the subject of a “substantive trade” Jones had mentioned earlier in the week. “The train has not left the station if improvement is needed from what we’ve got on campus.”

But is the focus on what the Cowboys didn’t achieve at WR obscuring the view of what they did achieve in this draft?

The crew at the Dallas Morning News gets to weigh in first on this draft:

• David Moore: A-
• Kevin Sherrington: B
• Tim Cowlishaw: B-
• Calvin Watkins: C

Moore, with the best grade, likes the value the Cowboys got in this draft.

The wish list of most people would have had the Cowboys address deficiencies at running back, defensive tackle and the second wide receiver spot with premium picks. But a draft is about reality. Dallas was disciplined throughout, got outstanding value down the line and was able to throw numbers at some problematic positions in Day 3. It appears this draft went a long way in getting Dallas back to where it wants to be.

Watkins, with the worst grade of the quartet, gives no quarter when it comes what the Cowboys didn’t achieve at the RB and WR spots.

After a promising start to the draft, the Cowboys didn’t finish it. You would like to see an offensive playmaker on the roster at running back or wide receiver and we don’t see one. Dallas didn’t pick a wideout this weekend, instead focusing on what’s currently on the roster. The loss of a fourth-round pick, where several running backs went off the board, pushed the Cowboys to draft a pair of running backs with different styles. We do like the effort of two late-round defensive tackles in Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote.

The draft grades from the national pundits show an equally wide range of opninions as we saw from the DMN writers, which just means there’s a take for just about every taste below.

Staff, PFF.com: Grade A+ (T 1st with two others)

1 (12): G Tyler Booker, Alabama. Booker, the 48th-ranked prospect on the PFF Big Board, profiles as a bit of a reach but a talent who fills a definite need up front in Dallas. The Alabama guard earned an 86.5 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024, which will provide an instant boost to a Cowboys offense that ranked 23rd in PFF pass-blocking grade (62.1) this past season.

2 (44): ED Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College. Situated at 17 on the PFF Big Board, Ezeiruaku profiles as a significant value for the Cowboys here. The Boston College standout maintains a solid grading profile, particularly against true pass sets, where he clocked the most snaps of any edge rusher in the 2025 class (196), earning a 90.7 PFF pass-rushing grade and a 25.8% pass rush win rate.

3 (76): CB Shavon Revel, East Carolina. Shavon Revel was the No. 44 player on the PFF Big Board, so his selection represents great value for the Cowboys at No. 76. Revel is a tall outside corner with back-to-back seasons with coverage grades above 80 (80.5 in 2023 and 84.0 in 2024).

5 (149): RB Jaydon Blue, Texas. After two seasons being stuck behind elite running back talent at Texas, Blue got his chance to be the featured back. Blue struggled with fumbles a bit, putting the ball on the ground four times while losing three of them. However, he showcased some elusiveness, forcing 37 missed tackles on 140 rushing attempts.

5 (152): LB Shemar James, Florida. Shemar James brings a lot of experience to the table, logging over 1,000 career snaps over three seasons, though with mixed results. His PFF coverage grade dropped to 46.5 last season after he posted an impressive 75.2 figure in 2023. On the other hand, he set a career high with a 68.4 PFF run-defense grade in his final year, registering 14 run stops and forcing a fumble.

6 (204): T Ajani Cornelius, Oregon. In three seasons as a starter, Cornelius allowed just four total sacks and 35 pressures on 1,466 pass-blocking snaps.

7 (217): DI Jay Toia, UCLA. At 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, Toia is very difficult to move, as evidenced by his 70.0 run-defense grade this past season. He still has work to do as a pass rusher, but his 22 total pressures in 2024 nearly tripled his combined total from the previous three years.

7 (239): RB Phil Mafah, Clemson. The Cowboys select a big power back in Mafah, who provides an option in short-yardage situations. He gained 3.24 yards after contact per attempt in 2024.

7 (247): DI Tommy Akingbesote, Maryland

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Grade A (3rd overall)

Jerry Jones didn’t end up with a wide receiver or tight end to help Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, but it was OK to table that position in lieu of boosting others. Booker is a great replacement for Zack Martin, and Cornelius has starting potential inside or out for their offensive line. Blue is their kind of speedy, power runner, and Ezeiruaku and Revel were absolute steals, given both could have gone at the end of the first round. Dallas addressed most key weaknesses as it tries to become tougher overall.

Danny Kelly, The Ringer: Grade A- (7th overall)

I really liked what the Cowboys did this weekend in adding a handful of early contributors to their roster. Alabama guard Tyler Booker will help solidify their interior offensive line and should provide clean pockets for Dak Prescott and run lanes for the team’s backs. Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku is a slippery, productive pass rusher who should pair excellently with Micah Parsons off the edge. East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel has top-tier upside as a big, long outside corner with ball skills and instincts in coverage. And Texas running back Jaydon Blue adds top-tier speed to the team’s backfield, giving the Cowboys a home run hitter at the position. All in all, a solid haul.

Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Grade A- (T 7th)

Grades: Day 1 grade: B+, Day 2 grade: A-, Day 3 grade: A-

The Cowboys bypassed the available offensive skill-position players and defensive talent at No. 12 to replace the retired Zack Martin with Booker. The former Alabama guard is a proven starter out of the SEC, but he did not impress in athletic testing this spring. Ezeiruaku projects as the next Demarcus Lawrence, while Revel could be a nice Day 2 find if he’s able to stay healthy (coming off an ACL tear).

I dropped Dallas’ grade slightly because they traded their fourth-round pick to Carolina for Jonathan Mingo last year, a move that has not paid off so far. They proved they could find running backs late, however, picking the speedy Blue in Round 5 and the strong Mafah in Round 7. I understood why they decided to trade up for James. I expect him to earn a starting role in Dallas. Cornelius could play guard or tackle for the Cowboys, while Toia and Akingbesote will help stop the run.

Nate Davis, USAToday: Grade B+ (6th overall)

It might not have been exactly what the fan base was hoping for – Jeanty – but owner Jerry Jones and his front office generally do a pretty solid job this time of year. Aside from being a bully on the field, first-round G Tyler Booker not only fills a need but could provide fresh leadership in the locker room in time. Second-round DE Donovan Ezeiruaku and third-round CB Shavon Revel Jr. were certainly worthy of being taken a round earlier than they were. Fifth-round RB Jaydon Blue brings sub-4.4 speed if not the background to suggest he can shoulder the load on the ground. Receiving depth behind WR CeeDee Lamb still looms as a significant question.

ProFootballNetwork: Grade B+ (T 12th)

Building a Bully: Some of the Cowboys’ picks may have been polarizing in the heat of the moment, but their composite class ended up looking a lot stronger than anticipated. Anchored by a superb early-round slate, the Cowboys’ rookie class has a chance to make an impact right away.

The Tyler Booker selection is simple. He’s not an elite athlete, but he’s an elite competitor with the size, technique, and IQ to last a long time as an NFL starter. Donovan Ezeiruaku has instant value as a pass-rush specialist, and Shavon Revel can help form a top-tier CB trio with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, if he can stay healthy.

The Cowboys’ performance dipped slightly on Day 3, mainly with a fifth-round reach for an unathletic, inconsistent linebacker in Shemar James. But overall, the Cowboys utilized their capital well. Jaydon Blue is a sparkplug at RB, and the rest of the Day 3 additions provide solid depth. This Cowboys class could help the team set off on the right foot with Brian Schottenheimer.

Gilberto Manzana, Sports Illustrated: Grade B+ (T 8th)

Dallas found a different way to help Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb without adding to a thin group of skill players early in the draft. The Cowboys opted to do what they do best—drafting an offensive lineman in the first round. Booker is set to replace the retired Zack Martin, one of the best draft picks ever for the Jones family. Dallas could again have one of the best offensive lines in the league, with Booker joining fellow first-round selections Tyler Guyton (2024) and Tyler Smith (’22). The Cowboys have also had success drafting cornerbacks, perhaps a good sign for Revel, a first-round talent with injury concerns.

Mel Kiper, ESPN: Grade B (13th overall)

Dallas could have done the flashy thing and taken a playmaker to help the offense.

So what did the Cowboys do? Well, they went unflashy with guard Tyler Booker, who can step in for Martin. Look, I like Booker as a player — he is my No. 1-ranked guard. I just don’t love the value at No. 12, which I wrote about Thursday night. I would have rather them trade down to add more capital that could have helped a depleted roster. I don’t think team owner Jerry Jones & Co. will care much about the value if Booker becomes a multi-time Pro Bowler, but it matters when I’m trying to grade a class from top to bottom.

Now, I did like what the Cowboys did on Day 2, adding edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., both of whom could have landed in the first round if everything broke right. They have the potential to be early starters for a Dallas defense undergoing a ton of turnover. Ezeiruaku could help fans forget about Lawrence, whose time with the team ended unceremoniously.

On Day 3, the Cowboys finally snagged a running back, but I had others rated over Jaydon Blue. Damien Martinez, Devin Neal and DJ Giddens were all higher in my rankings. Dallas also traded up for Blue, eating into its capital. It drafted another back — Phil Mafah, adding to a crowded depth chart. I like the competition, though. Jay Toia is a big run-stopping nose tackle who can plug holes on defense.

Overall, this is a solid, if unspectacular, haul.

Chris Trapasso, CBSSports: Grade B (T 17th)

After some highly questionable drafts of late, Jerry and Stephen Jones — and Will McClay — have totally redeemed themselves in 2025. Ok, so I didn’t love the Tyler Booker selection at No. 12 overall due to his athletic deficiencies. But I will acknowledge guard was a monster need on this offense.

Beyond that, Ezeiruaku was picked at proper value and gives Micah Parsons a new, young running mate on the edge. Revel was a sensational find at No. 76, and Blue has serious juice when there’s a lane out of the backfield. James is raw but smooth in a three-down role. The Cowboys got noticeably better this weekend. I do wonder what the plan is at outside receiver, though.

And if you’re wondering how these grades compare across the NFC East, here’s a convenient summary.