Rookie battleground: Cowboys vs. Eagles breakdown for draft picks/UDFAs
The NFL is a young man’s game, so each week we dive into each team’s rookie class and how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com)
Dallas Cowboys
Tyler Booker (OG)
First Round
Last year’s rookie series started with a Tyler and this season that trend continues with Tyler Booker. The Alabama man-mover has been getting on with business and his on-field flashes in preseason games were good. It’s clear he’s much more effective at run blocking over pass blocking, but that’s not to say he’s bad in pass protection. On his limited snap count in preseason game for Dallas, Booker played 15 passing sets and allowed no pressures or sacks. It’s not a huge sample size to judge anything but it does add some confidence.
In college he played 1,035 passing plays and allowed only two sacks during his collegiate career. In the SEC, that’s impressive. But now he has to face this Eagles impressive inside pass rush which will put him to the test. Keeping Dak Prescott clean is key here and you can be sure the Eagles coaching staff will crash hard toward Booker and really put the rookie guard under stress for his debut regular season appearance.
Grade: N/A
Donovan Ezeiruaku (DE)
Second Round
In landing the extremely athletic and talented Boston College Eagles’ pass rusher, the Cowboys are hoping that landing the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Ted Hendricks award winner will develop into the team’s next Micah Parsons. “E-Z” is a dominant defender, not only did he lead Boston College and the ACC in sacks (16.5), he also led in tackles for loss (21) and was second on the team in total tackles (80). He’s basically combining elite defensive end stats with linebacker stats. It will take time to adjust but there should be little doubt that Ezeiruaku will develop very nicely into an effective edge defender for Dallas.
Grade: N/A
Shavon Revel Jr. (CB)
Third Round
Currently on Non-Football injury list (NFI)
Jaydon Blue (RB)
Fifth Round
Panic set in at Oxnard when Blue went down with an ankle injury and then looked like he reaggravated something in the final preseason game. The good news is this isn’t something long term and his skills will most certainly be needed this season. Brian Schottenheimer came out after the Atlanta Falcons game and said that Blue’s injury wasn’t anything to be concerned about and he’s been seen on the practice field ahead of the season opener. His speed has the chance to be a game-changer against the Eagles who are susceptible to giving up yards to running backs flying out on the flat as an extra receiver, so Blue would be crucial here. This all depends on his health which needs to be observed this week for any further updates.
Grade: N/A
Shemar James (LB)
Fifth Round
James really started to flash in Dallas’ preseason games and looks like he could fill in as a “Moneybacker” on the Cowboys linebacker corps. In a game that prioritizes coverage over everything else, James really proved he could fill that role. His interception of Easton Sticks’ throw against the Falcons had James perfectly positioned to make the snag and highlights he knew exactly where to be. Has he done enough to steal a starting spot? Not for the season opener but expect to see him in rotation and doing plenty of work on special teams.
Grade: N/A
Ajani Cornelius (OT)
Sixth Round
Grade: N/A
Jay Toia (DT)
Seventh Round
The recent trade where the Cowboys sent Micah Parsons packing and acquired Kenny Clark pushes Jay Toia down the pecking order. His snap forecast for the foreseeable future looks uncertain. Toia was totally fine during preseason and in most cases he outshone Mazi Smith. Slowing down Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts on scrambles or RPO’s is absolute key here, so Schottenheimer may hold the rookie defensive tackle back while more established defenders try hold back the tide.
Grade: N/A
Phil Mafah (RB)
Seventh Round – IR
Grade: N/A
Philadelphia Eagles
Jihaad Campbell (LB)
First Round
The Alabama tackling machine (183 total tackles since 2023) fell to the Eagles in the first round and was considered the best off-ball linebacker in this year’s draft class. Some scouts even had him touted as a top-ten pick. At 6’3” and 235 lbs, he boasts sideline-to-sideline range, exceptional burst and acceleration, and the ability to play multiple positions—as a MIKE, SAM, or even off the edge in creative schemes. His fluid coverage skills, disruptive blitzing, and length make him a formidable presence in zone defense and pass rush situations.
His pre-snap recognition and instincts can be tentative—he can be slow to diagnose plays, especially when dealing with play-action or misdirection, and he sometimes hesitates before committing downhill. He’s also shown room for improvement in block engagement and physicality, particularly shedding blocks against bigger linemen or tight ends, and can be overaggressive, occasionally overrunning plays or getting caught out of position.
Campbell’s blazing speed and range should be invaluable in chasing down Dallas’ dynamic playmakers, whether in the run game or on quick passing options. His versatility allows the Eagles to disguise looks, blitzing from different spots or dropping into unexpected coverage, and disguise gaps to disrupt the Cowboys’ timing. That said, Dallas may test him with play-action, tight-end motions, or runs that stress gap discipline and block resistance.
Andrew Mukuba (SAF)
Second Round
Andrew Mukuba is an athletic, instinctive safety whose elite range, ball-hawking ability, and coverage versatility make him an immediate asset for the Eagles, especially in pass-heavy games. His quick processing, anticipation, and versatility across deep safety, slot, and box roles grant defensive coordinators valuable schematic flexibility. That said, his relatively small frame and sometimes erratic tackling technique make him vulnerable against physical matchups, bigger blockers and shifty tight ends, and he must guard against over-aggression that could leave him exposed to double moves. Against the Cowboys, expect Mukuba to excel in deep coverage and turnover opportunities, if he can maintain discipline and stay on his feet, he could emerge as a game-changer in the secondary on Thursday.
Ty Robinson (NT)
Fourth Round
Ty Robinson is a physically imposing, high-motor interior lineman whose rare combination of explosiveness, length, and versatility makes him a dynamic rotational asset for the Eagles. His ability to penetrate gaps and disrupt both run and pass plays is enhanced by his experience and athletic testing, and his adaptability across defensive fronts adds scheming versatility. That said, maintaining pad discipline and expanding his pass-rush toolkit will be critical, offensive lines will look to capitalize on his height and technical gaps. Against the Cowboys, Robinson has the potential to stir up chaos in the middle, depending how much they look to rotate him for the first game of the season.
Mac McWilliams (CB)
Fifth Round
Mac McWilliams is very feisty and an instinctive slot corner whose exceptional short-area quickness and aggressive tackling make him an enticing depth piece for the Eagles. While his compact frame and arm reach introduce limitations, especially against bigger receivers and press coverage, his nickel back ability and special teams acumen position him as a high-upside “next man up” defender. As of now, he’s the backup slot corner but could earn increased playing time as the season progresses. Against the Cowboys, McWilliams offers disruption in space and stout run support, so long as he maintains technique and leverages his anticipation rather than relying on physical parity.
Smael Mondon (LB)
Fifth Round
Smael Mondon Jr. is an explosive, coverage-capable linebacker with safety-level instincts, sideline-to-sideline speed, and sturdy fundamental tackling, traits heightened by his special teams upside. Though currently fourth on the depth chart behind Campbell, Zack Baun and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., he’s carving a role as a rotational asset. His coverage range brings strategic flexibility, but his lean frame and read-and-react consistency remain areas for serious refinement. Against the Cowboys, Mondon can offer rotational snaps in obvious passing plays and space-oriented packages, but he will look play the majority of snaps on special teams this week.
