When expectations meet reality the results can sometimes be disappointing. Such is the case with the Dallas Cowboys 2025 season and expectations many fans had for some of the young players projected to have a big impact with the organization this year. For whatever reason though, things didn’t play out the way fans hoped.
Today, we look at three of the young players many fans expected to play a significant role with the Cowboys this year only to fall well below expectations. With only four games remaining on the regular-season schedule and the playoffs looking unlikely, the future expectations of these young players is clouded in mystery moving forward.
RB Jaydon Blue
Jaydon Blue was a fifth-round draft pick for the Cowboys this year and arrived in Dallas with some pretty high expectations. He was expected to provide an explosive element to the offense as both a runner and receiver, but that has sadly never materialized. Instead, he’s been a healthy scratch the majority of the season, suiting up only four times so far this year. To date he’s rushed for only 65 yards on 22 carries and has added only one catch for five yards through the air. That’s nowhere near the production many expected from him.
The rookie out of Texas was expected to be heavily involved in the Cowboys offense this year. Many expected him to challenge for the lead back, but instead he’s continued to tumble down the depth chart as the season progressed. We’ve seen Malik Davis get re-signed and lock down the RB2 position behind Javonte Williams and the recent addition of Israel Abanikanda is further proof Blue is in the doghouse. A once bright future now seems murky at best unless something changes dramatically.
LB Marist Liufau
Marist Liufau was the 87th overall pick in the third-round by the Cowboys in 2024. As a rookie last year he had a pretty solid season playing in all 17 games, starting nine of those contest. He finished his rookie year with 50 combined tackles, 1.5 QB sacks, and four tackles for a loss. He showed enough promise last year many believed he had the talent to develop into a starter in his second year, especially with Matt Eberflus’ background coaching linebackers. Sadly, not only did that not happen, but he seemed to regress in his sophomore season.
So far in 2025, Liufau has only four starts on the season and has seen his role on defense steadily declined since the Cowboys bye week. Not only has his playing time taken a hit, but he also seems to have fallen further and further down the LB depth chart. Some of that is due to the trade for Logan Wilson and the return of DeMarvion Overshown, but his tumble from a potential starter to mostly a special teamer this year makes one wonder about his future. Is he a third-round bust or is there still hope for him at what seems to be a position of need next year?
WR Jonathan Mingo
The Cowboys acquired Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers last season for a fourth-round pick. While they overpaid for the former second-round WR, there was still hope he could be a contributor. In eight games and one start last season Mingo only managed five catches for 46 yards with the Cowboys after arriving via trade. He never really seem to settle in or find a offensive role for himself last year, but there was hope he would do more with a full offseason in his second year in Dallas.
Mingo has only managed to play a total of 20 offensive snaps in two games with the Cowboys so far this season after spending the majority of the year on injured reserve with a PCL sprain in his right knee. Had he been healthy the entire year he may have been more productive, but to date he’s only been targeted once in the passing game with zero catches. As things stand right now he’s at best WR5 on the depth chart and has a lot to prove if he wants to climb many higher next season. Expectations for him moving forward continue to diminish.
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