How well do you think the Cowboys addressed their needs in the 2025 NFL Draft?
What a difference a week makes! Well, at least we hope it does. That’s where so many fanbases sit following the 2025 NFL Draft, wondering how this year’s crop of rookies will help their teams’ fortunes next season and beyond. That may be even truer for the Dallas Cowboys than other franchises thanks to their heavy reliance on the draft for roster improvement.
Shortly before last week’s festivities, we broke down the Cowboys’ needs after about a month of free agency. Follow the link for the details, but here was the list at that time:
- Running back
- Wide receiver
- Cornerback
- Defensive tackle
- Offensive tackle
- Defensive end
- Linebacker
- Guard/Center
- Tight end
- Quarterback
- Safety
- Special teams
Since then, Dallas has added nine new players through the draft and several others as undrafted free agents. They even signed a veteran OT, Hakeem Adeniji, when everyone was too busy getting ready for last Thursday night to really notice. Now, with roughly three months to go until the start of training camp, how do those roster needs look?
12. Special Teams
No surprise that an already-stacked position didn’t get any attention in the draft, or even from the UDFA signings. The Cowboys are ready to rock with this group and just have to figure out who will best fill the blocking and coverage duties from among their depth players.
11. Guard/Center
Nobody expected Dallas to go with an interior lineman in the first round, or even before Day 3, but it really wasn’t that surprising when they selected Tyler Booker on Thursday night. Now, instead of hoping for the likes of Brock Hoffman, Robert Jones, and Saahdiq Charles to keep the line solvent, we’re looking for Booker to help push the line back to its 2014-2016 form. If that happens, it will make everyone on offense better in the same way Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, and Travis Frederick did during their prime.
10. Safety
It wasn’t a big need going in and, naturally, didn’t get any attention. The Cowboys seem content with Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson as veteran starters and a young but experienced trio of backups in Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell, and Israel Mukuamu. Like with Booker at guard, they could’ve made a pick here to elevate the group but were already adequately staffed for next season.
9. Quarterback
Dallas had already used a fifth-round pick to acquire Joe Milton III via trade, so they had already made their Day 3 move at quarterback. With Dak Prescott and Will Grier already on the roster, the position was stocked except for another arm for training camp, something they can solve with a low-cost free agent.
8. Tight End
Similarly, Dallas felt covered here going into the draft. They could’ve had Tyler Warren at the 12th pick but instead went with Booker, showing confidence in Jake Ferguson having a bounce-back year and third-year growth from Luke Schoonmaker. They did add a couple of undrafted rookies, but probably nothing more than camp bodies.
7. Defensive End
While second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku was a big get for the pass rush, Dallas is still hurting for run stoppers. They’ll still be relying heavily on Marshawn Kneeland to replace DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston. Ezeiruaku helps mitigate risk with guys like Dante Fowler (age), Sam Williams (injury, unproven), and Payton Turner (bust), and is great for the future, but didn’t move the needle much on Dallas’ immediate need here.
6. Linebacker
Fifth-round pick Shemar James adds another body to the rotation and could quickly assert himself in clear passing situations. But Dallas is still about where they started with trying to cover for DeMarvion Overshown’s absence.
5. Running Back
While Day 3 picks generally aren’t needle movers, at least not on the surface, the depth of this year’s RB class allows for more optimism with Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. They should compete immediately with Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and Deuce Vaughn for carries and likely knock two of those veterans off the roster. Still, it’s hard to say that any of them will come in and become long-term answers at the position.
4. Offensive Tackle
Even if sixth-round pick Ajani Cornelius plays tackle in the NFL, which is still unknown, he’s going to be a long shot to challenge for a meaningful role early. Asim Richards is probably still your swing tackle, meaning the need here didn’t really change.
3. Cornerback
Shavon Revel is supposedly set to play in Week 1, if not sooner, but he’ll still be a rookie coming off a major knee injury. It gives Dallas more depth at CB but, with Trevon Diggs’ uncertainty, still leaves plenty of concern for the overall strength of the group in the early part of the season.
2. Defensive Tackle
The Cowboys have more bodies now with Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote, but these late-round rookies can’t be immediately expected to do more than Linval Joseph and Carlos Watkins did last year. Dallas went in needing more reliable depth and, until we learn more this summer, it’s hard to say they improved the situation.
1. Wide Receiver
The major story of this draft for the Cowboys was not taking any receivers despite it being a consensus top need, with some arguing it should have been their top priority. Tet McMillan was off the board by the 12th pick but everyone else was there, and throughout the rounds there were options that Dallas passed on for other positions.
Going forward, the prospect of Jonathan Mingo and Jalent Tolbert competing for WR2 inspires little confidence. This is now the focal point of the remaining offseason, with rising clamor for Dallas to trade for an established receiver or at least sign a free agent like Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper.
