Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images Travis Frederick will announce Cowboys draft picks on Friday night. The NFL draft is next week which means the Dallas Cowboys are going to have some new players on their roster soon enough. While the first round is clearly full of intrigue, the draft contains more than that, and progresses across three total days. Over the last almost decade we have seen the draft get a bit fun in nature as it has worn on with different people announcing the different selections. Perhaps the most iconic of these was Drew Pearson announcing Chidobe Awuzie’s draft selection when the draft was held in Philadelphia and boos rained down on him. The Original 88 was not flustered though and delivered an all-time speech. Yesterday, the franchise legends that will make picks on behalf of their team this year were announced and Travis Frederick is the player for the Cowboys. A look at the former and active players now scheduled to announce their teams’ picks next Friday night for rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL draft: pic.twitter.com/HpMkPz5mPY — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 17, 2025 It has been a reflective offseason for the Cowboys relative to Fredbeard’s time served with the team as both Zack Martin and Tyron Smith retired. The latter of the two did so in a ceremony just this week. There have been few public appearances from Frederick since he retired in 2020, especially those that are/were related to the NFL or Cowboys in an official capacity. It is very cool that we will get to see him. Frederick was one of the best first-round selections that the Cowboys made over the last decade and a half. They initially traded down in the 2013 draft with the San Francisco 49ers and walked away with him, all while many members of the fanbase were displeased. But the Cowboys and Frederick got the last laugh as he proved to be one of the best players on the team and one of the best centers in the league while he was in the NFL. It will be interesting to see which names he reads on behalf of the current team.

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images How likely do you think it is that the Cowboys will move around during the draft? At this time of year, large parts of every NFL fanbase are indulging in trade-down fantasies. Having those extra picks in your mock drafts is so enticing, suddenly you can fit five names where you could previously only fit three, cover all your needs in one fell swoop, or fill out your mocks with extra players from your favorite school. And the mock draft providers add extra incentive by offering completely unrealistic trade scenarios. Adding further fuel to the Cowboys trade-down fire is Stephen Jones, who suggested earlier this week the Cowboys might be open to trading down this year. Stephen Jones on @1053thefan Fan on the upcoming draft: “I don’t necessarily see us moving up based on way the board is coming together but could see a situation where we move down.” — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 15, 2025 Of course, the Joneses say something similar every year. However, the Cowboys do like to wheel and deal picks during the draft. Since 1989, Dallas has been involved in draft day trades in 31 of their 36 drafts under Jerry Jones. The only five years in which the Cowboys managed to keep their feet completely still on draft weekend were 2000, 2011, 2016, 2018, and 2022 when they did not move away from their originally assigned draft spots once over the entire draft weekend. Is that recent mini-surge of no-trade drafts something we’ll see again this year? Conventional wisdom holds that teams should trust their draft board and take the best talent that slides into their lap. At the same time, moving back a few spots could net you extra picks with which to address holes in your roster. And the Cowboys have also been successful (at times) in moving up in the draft, which has many fans thinking of slipping the entire Cowboys war room some Adderall to keep Mr. Jones and his crew in their seats, off the phones, and focused on their draft board. So, what to do? Sticking to your draft board is not necessarily a guarantee for finding great players, but over the last decade or so, the Cowboys draft boards appear to have been pretty solid. Obviously, the danger inherent in moving around is that you can end up missing some very good players. In 2009, the Cowboys traded out of the 51st pick for the 75th (OG Robert Brewster, zero NFL career starts) and 110th (LB Victor Butler, two NFL career starts) pick. Within nine picks of that original pick, OG Andy Levitre, BUF (pick 51, 143 career starts), OT Phil Loadholt, MIN (#54, 89 starts), OT Sebastian Vollmer, NE (#58, 80 starts) and OT Will Beatty, NYG (#60, 63 starts) were selected. Each of those guys would have been a dramatic upgrade over what the Cowboys eventually got. And that’s without factoring in six-time Pro Bowler LeSean McCoy, who would have been available at 53. At the same time, had the Cowboys not traded up in the 2010 and 2014 drafts, they wouldn’t have gotten franchise cornerstones like Dez Bryant, Sean Lee, or DeMarcus Lawrence, just as their moves in 2013 netted them Travis Frederick and Terrance Williams. All of which just goes to show that if you cherry-pick your examples carefully enough, you can prove just about anything. So what do you think: Can the Cowboys sit tight during the draft? And more importantly, should they? Cowboys recent history of DRAFT DAY trades 2015 Traded 2016 sixth-round pick (178) to 49ers for 2015 seventh-round pick (246-Geoff Swaim) 2016 – – 2017 Traded up for Xavier Woods (191=157 in 2018) Traded down with Patriots for extra picks (211 = 216, 239) -> Marquez White, Noah Brown 2018 — 2019 Traded down with Bengals for extra picks (136 = 149, 213) Traded down with Raiders for extra picks (149 = 158, 218) 2020 Traded up with Eagles for Tyler Biadasz (146 = 164 + 156 in 2021) 2021 Traded down two spots with Eagles (10 = 12+84) -> Micah Parsons, Chauncey Gholston 2022 – – 2023 Traded 2024 fifth-round pick (159) to Chiefs for 2023 sixth-round pick (178-Eric Scott Jr.) 2024 Traded down five spots with Lions (24 = 29+73) -> Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe

Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images The Ohio State running back is a name to watch We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at running back Quinshon Judkins from Ohio State. Quinshon Judkins RBOhio State BuckeyesJunior3-star recruit 6’0”221 lbs Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images History Quinshon Judkins, born on October 29, 2003, in Montgomery, Alabama, emerged as a standout running back during his collegiate football career at Pike Road High School in Alabama, where he rushed for over 1,500 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior. Despite his high school success, he was considered an underrated prospect and was given a three-star recruit rating. Judkins would join Ole Miss in 2022 where he made an immediate impact. He would set school records with 1,567 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on 274 carries. He also added 15 receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown. His performance earned him numerous accolades, including SEC Freshman of the Year. In his sophomore year, Judkins continued to excel, rushing for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns on 271 carries. He also caught 22 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. His consistent performance led to a second consecutive First-Team All-SEC selection. After transferring to Ohio State, Judkins played a crucial role in the Buckeyes’ national championship run. He rushed for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns on 194 carries and caught 22 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. His 86-yard run against Marshall was the third-longest in Ohio State history. Notably, he scored three touchdowns in the national championship game against Notre Dame, helping secure the title. 2024 Statistics 265 Offensive Snaps194 Rush Attempts 1,060 Rush Yards5.5 YPC16 Total TDs22 Receptions 161 Receiving Yards 1 Fumble58 First Downs43 Missed Tackles Forced1 Penalty NFL Combine/Pro Day 10-Yard Split- 1.51s (90%)40-Yard Dash- 4.48s (76%)Vert- 38.5” (90%) Broad- 132” (99%)Bench- 24 (85%) PD Awards Third-team All-Big Ten (2024First-team All-Big Ten (2023)First-team All-Big Ten (2022) Scorecard Overall- 84.4Speed- 79Acceleration- 91Agility- 60Strength- 88Contact Balance- 90Vision- 89Elusiveness- 66Receiving- 61Blocking- 51Discipline- 95 THE GOOD Showcases excellent patience and vision waiting for blocks to develop. His excellent spatial awareness allows him to read leverage and anticipate defenders’ positioning. Compactly built with a strong lower half, he breaks arm tackles and finishes runs with authority. Exceptional contact balance lets him absorb hits and keep churning forward. Quick-footed and sudden through the hole, though not a burner in the open field. Shows adequate burst to turn corners and gash defenses. Willing and physical in blitz pickup. TAPE TIME RB Quinshon Judkins Ohio State ✅ THE GOOD✅#scouting #NFLDraft #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/Uw3bDWymyb — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) April 16, 2025 THE BAD Doesn’t possess breakaway speed to consistently outrun defensive backs. Occasionally waits too long for blocks to develop, leading to stalled plays. Not a naturally twitchy or sudden mover in the open field. Logged over 700 touches across three seasons, which could raise durability flags. Relies more on power and balance than jukes or shake to make defenders miss. Willing blocker but can struggle with positioning and recognition. TAPE TIME RB Quinshon Judkins Ohio State ❌THE BAD❌#scouting #NFLDraft #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/pzPMrZ6yuT — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) April 16, 2025 THE FIT Quinshon Judkins thrives as a downhill, one-cut runner with the vision and toughness to handle a heavy workload. He excels in inside-zone and gap schemes, using his sharp vision and footwork to hit creases decisively. His ability to turn minimal gains into chunk yardage by shedding tackles and falling forward adds real value. His knack for showing up in big games, like his three-touchdown performance in the national title game is a testament to his mental toughness. He’s built like a workhorse and plays like one. He lacks elite top-end speed, which limits his ability to consistently break long runs. He’s more of a chunk gainer than a home-run hitter. At times, he can be a bit too patient, resulting in negative plays when the line doesn’t hold up. While he’s improved as a pass-catcher, he still needs to refine his route-running and become more dynamic in space. His pass protection, while gritty, will need technical polish at the next level to handle NFL-caliber blitzers. Since Ezekiel Elliott’s departure, Dallas has lacked a physical runner. Judkins would instantly give them a tough, downhill option who thrives in short-yardage and red zone situations. He shares similarities with early-career Zeke as he runs physical, has great contact balance, and can wear down defenses. While not as explosive or has the pass blocking prowess of Zeke, his no-nonsense running style fits the mold Dallas fans are used to. If Dallas wants to get back to a physical run game to support Dak Prescott and take pressure off the passing attack, Judkins would be a great value pick on Day 2. He brings toughness, consistency, and a chip-on-the-shoulder mindset, all things Cowboys fans and coaches tend to love. He might not be flashy, but he’s the type of back who helps close out games in the fourth quarter. COMPARISON: Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks BTB GRADE: 66th CONSENSUS RANKING: 54th(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Here is our Friday open thread for discussion. Happy Friday! We officially have less than a week to go until the NFL Draft begins and what’s more is that at this time a week from now the Dallas Cowboys will have a brand new player. Just a few more days to wait. For our Friday open thread here on the blog we are opening the floor for discussion and to be quite honest for predictions. By now it is likely that you have a favorite or several favorite options for the team with the 12th overall pick, although I imagine your most preferable path would be for the Cowboys to trade back. That is obviously difficult to predict. Whatever the case today’s open thread will serve as a chance for you to get your final predictions in for who will be a Cowboy when we all wake up a week from now. Let’s hear your answers in the comments down below.

Think you can figure out which Cowboys player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game! Hey Cowboys fans! We’re back for another day of the Blogging The Boys in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article. Previous games Thursday, April 17, 2025Wednesday, April 16, 2025Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games NFL in-5MLB in-5MMA in-5 Blogging The Boys in-5 instructions The goal of the game is to guess the correct Cowboys player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form. Enjoy!

Set Number: X161446 TK1 The Cowboys have a brand new offensive lineman. Just days before the NFL draft, and a day after the Dallas Cowboys had Tyron Smith announce his retirement, the Cowboys are adding another offensive lineman. The Cowboys are signing veteran OL Hakeem Adeniji, per source — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 17, 2025 Hakeem Adeniji joins the Cowboys as a versatile option who can play either guard or tackle. Adeniji, a Texas native, played at Garland High School before going to University of Kansas where he was a 2019 conference All-American in the Big 12. Adeniji has played in 43 career NFL games and has started 15 of them. He was a sixth-round pick of the Bengals in 2020. He was injured all of last year while on the Browns roster. The Cowboys do need to replenish their offensive line with more depth to challenge guys already on the roster. Adeniji will have some stiff competition to make the roster but comes with NFL starting experience. The Cowboys are likely to pick up an offensive linemen during the draft, but adding a veteran like Adeniji is good for depth and competition.

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Here are the top linebackers to know ahead of next week’s draft. We continue to dive in our top positional series for the Dallas Cowboys and this time looking at the top 10 linebackers in the draft and providing a short scouting report on each. Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) Best – RangeCampbell is a sideline-to-sideline monster and does it consistently from the first to the last quarter. He’s got a rare combination of fluid movement, top-tier closing speed, and reactive athleticism, which lets him chase down plays all over the field. Whether it’s tracking down a running back on a stretch play or spying and closing on a quarterback, he covers ground fast and violently. Worst – Play Recognition While he’s got all the athletic tools, he can still be a bit slow to diagnose plays, bite on misdirection, or take false steps. Against more disciplined or complex offenses, that can put him out of position and limit his impact. Sometimes, he relies too much on raw speed to recover instead of reading and reacting cleanly from the start. Checking his landmarks or buying what the offense sells on play action is a massive weakness for him. Carson Schwesinger (UCLA) Best – High IQSchwesinger’s ability to quickly read offensive plays, anticipate movements, and position himself effectively sets him apart. This keen sense of the game allows him to consistently make impactful plays, even when facing more physically imposing opponents. His mental acuity and instinctual play make him a valuable asset, particularly in roles that leverage his ability to read and react swiftly. Worst – Athleticism Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the burst or raw power you typically see in NFL-caliber linebackers. That can show up when he’s trying to cover fast backs or tight ends in space, or when he’s taking on bigger, more athletic blockers at the second level. His athletic profile is average at best. This limits a lot in the NFL as a pure WILL which means he lacks versatility. Demetrius Knight (South Carolina) Best – Instincts Knights is a great instinctive downhill player. This is particularly evident in run defense and blitzing situations. His background as a high school quarterback contributes to his exceptional ability to read offensive schemes and anticipate plays. This, combined with his natural timing, allows him to penetrate gaps swiftly and disrupt plays in the backfield. Worst – OveraggressiveHe has a tendency to shoot gaps too early or commit downhill before fully diagnosing the play, which can lead to him being out of position. Offenses can use that aggressiveness against him with misdirection, play-action, or delayed runs. It’s the classic “see ball, go get ball” mentality (which works when he’s right), but when he’s wrong, it creates open lanes and missed assignments along with poor pursuit angles. Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma) Best – Run Defense Stutsman shows advanced play recognition, particularly with his keys in run defense. He’s logged high tackle production for Oklahoma in multiple years, largely because of his ability to quickly identify run concepts and trigger downhill with confidence. He’s shown he can read pulling guards, diagnose inside zone and gap runs, and shoot gaps before blockers reach him. Worst- Agility Stutsman’s primary weakness lies in his limited lateral agility and coverage capabilities. His tight hips and short-strides limit his ability to change direction quickly, affecting his performance in man coverage against agile running backs and tight ends. Barrett Carter (Clemson) Best – RangeCarter’s athleticism lets him close gaps quickly, whether he’s scrambling in run support or dropping back into coverage. His speed and quick change-of-direction makes him a dynamic presence on the field and allows him to play side-to-sideline with great consistency. His physical tools enable him to recover quickly if he finds himself out of position. Worst – Disengaging blocksAt times, when engaging blockers, Carter can linger too long instead of releasing from them and breaking free. This momentary hesitation can allow offensive linemen extra time to reset and prevent him from getting free quickly. While his athleticism often helps him bounce back, relying on recovery speed rather than efficient block shedding can leave him out of good pursuit position. In the NFL where the game is much faster this will leave Carter out of the play far too often. Chris Paul Jr. (Ole Miss) Best – Instincts Paul Jr. possesses an almost uncanny ability to quickly read offensive concepts and anticipate plays. This enables him to react decisively whether it’s stopping the run or dropping into coverage. His understanding of the game allows him to make split-second decisions that keep him in the right position, resulting in key disruptions. Worst – Tackling While his instincts keep him in the right area, his technique sometimes lapses and he occasionally struggles with proper pad level and to secure the ball carrier. This can result in missed or incomplete tackles. Jeffrey Bassa (Oregon) Best – Blitzing Bassa’s most elite trait is his blitzing ability, particularly his timing when called to get into the backfield. His elite blitzing skills, combined with his coverage ability and athleticism, positions him as a versatile and impactful linebacker prospect for the modern NFL. Worst – StrengthBassa often has difficulty disengaging from blocks, especially when facing climbing offensive linemen. His lack of ideal play strength and leverage can lead to him being pushed far too easily from his gap. Smael Mondon Jr. (Georgia) Best – BurstWhether chasing down the ball carrier or performing a pass rush, Mondon’s quick first step allows him to close gaps before plays can develop. His high-energy approach and sustained motor keep him in constant pursuit of the action, making him effective in run defense as well as in pass-rushing situations. Worst – Injuries A legitimate concern with Mondon is his injury history and overall durability. He’s dealt with multiple lower-body injuries during his time at Georgia, including an ankle injury as well as a notable foot injury that required offseason surgery and plagued his

Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images After about a month of free agency, the Dallas Cowboys are now focusing on the 2025 NFL Draft. The crowning jewel of every offseason, the draft will shape the remainder of whatever other signings or trades the team might make between now and September. Before this flurry of player acquisition, let’s take a look at the Cowboys’ updated roster needs. Dallas hasn’t been sitting on its hands. The Cowboys signed eight new free agents, re-signed eight others from last year, and traded for three players. That outweighs the team’s fourteen departures thus far: eight players who have already signed with new teams, five who remain free agents, and one retired legend named Zack Martin. Still, Dallas has some big needs going into this draft. Their offseason moves didn’t fully address certain departures like WR Brandin Cooks or CB Jourdan Lewis, nor have they sufficiently covered losses like RB Rico Dowdle or the lingering injury concerns at cornerback with Trevon Diggs and Josh Butler. So, from least to greatest, how do we rank the Cowboys’ needs with about a week to go until the draft? 12. Special Teams The Cowboys have often looked outside the draft to deal with special teams openings, but there have been some exceptions through the years. 2025 won’t be one of them as Dallas boasts the league’s best return man and arguably its best kicker, plus two proficient veterans at punter and long snapper. They have already done their work by re-signing all of KaVontae Turpin, Bryan Anger, and Trent Sieg, and they will enjoy one more year of Brandon Aubrey at a huge discount. While special teams work may drive some late-round and UDFA decisions, the key positions are nicely covered. 11. Safety After re-signing prospects Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell, plus retaining Donovan Wilson despite some cap casualty speculation, Dallas seems set at safety. They have their core four with these three and Malik Hooker, plus a versatile depth option in Israel Mukuamu. That’s not to say they shouldn’t think twice if they have a chance at an elite draft prospect like Malaki Starks or Nick Emmanwori; upgrades are certainly worth considering. But in terms of need, the position is already stocked with two veteran starters and perhaps two future ones. 10. Quarterback The Cowboys already picked up their next developmental project when they swapped late-round picks with the Patriots for Joe Milton. He’s essentially their draft pick for this cycle and, paired with Will Grier, gives Dallas its likely depth behind Dak Prescott for 2025. If the Cowboys do add more QB talent, it will likely be a post-draft signing of another veteran to challenge Grier. 9. Tight End Between the hope for a Jake Ferguson bounce-back and the potential third-year leap for Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas could understandably stand pat. They even have some solid depth with Brevyn Spann-Ford, Princeton Fant, and the new “if he can stay healthy” prospect John Stephens. Granted, this isn’t enough to stop speculation that Dallas might consider Penn State’s Tyler Warren at the 12th pick. He’d walk in as TE1, perhaps allowing them to move Ferguson in a trade before his contract expires. Like at safety, this is a spot where a “best player available” scenario can’t be ignored by also isn’t nearly as important to address as others. 8. Guard/Center Martin’s retirement isn’t as big of a loss in realty as it sounds on paper. Injuries and mileage had diminished his skills, allowing Brock Hoffman to step in last year at right guard without a significant performance dropoff. A starting trio of Hoffman, Tyler Smith, and Cooper Beebe at the interior offensive line isn’t bad, and Dallas also has good depth and competition with T.J. Bass and free-agent pickup Robert Jones. If they did get a chance at one of the top center or guard prospects, though, it’s certainly worth considering. Beebe can play either spot, and making Hoffman a valuable depth piece instead of a starter only makes you that much stronger. Hoffman is also a free agent after this year, so Dallas might see it as a chance to lock in with a new multi-year starter on the cheap. 7. Linebacker Without the DeMarvion Overshown injury concerns, this might have been at the bottom of the list. But thanks to the additions of Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray, at least Overshown’s potential absence doesn’t drive this near the top. You still have Marist Liufau coming off a promising rookie year and Damone Clark as an experienced fourth-year prospect. If the team feels that Overshown and Liufau are their big two going forward, they’ll be judicious about using premium picks here. They can certainly look at mid- to late-round guys for depth and competition. 6. Defensive End Losing DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston in the same offseason hurts, but two of Dallas’s last three second-round picks have been EDGE players Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams. This is their time to shine, and free-agent additions Dante Fowler and Payton Turner will help fill out the rotation. But with Williams coming off an ACL injury and Turner having been a bust in New Orleans, Dallas could justifiably strengthen the group with a high-ranking rookie. 5. Offensive Tackle With Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele as returning starters, plus Asim Richards as an adequate swing tackle, the key spots are at least covered. But there are concerns with all three of them. Steele could be a cap casualty if he doesn’t have a strong season, Guyton needs to show considerable growth from a rough rookie year, and Richards is only passable at tackle. Drafting a new OT prospect makes sense on multiple levels. A high pick could come in and immediately challenge Guyton and Steele or at least be an upgrade for swing duty. That would allow Richards to compete at guard, where he’s better suited. The new guy would also be a potential replacement for one of the

Photo by CFP/Getty Images There are some very interesting prospects in this year’s draft. All signs point to the Cowboys going after a wide receiver in this year’s draft, with a growing sense that Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan could be the target in the first round, provided he’s still available at pick 12. If he’s not, though, it won’t be game over for the Cowboys. There are a lot of receiver prospects in this draft that will go on to become productive players at the next level, though the odds of finding one declines the farther you get into the draft. However, one such player is perhaps the most underrated prospect in this entire draft class. Meet Melquan Stovall. TOUCHDOWN DEVILS @melquan_1 runs it in for six!#PitchforkSalute /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/pXe1ns9SyA — Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 19, 2023 Stovall is a unique case, as he has six years of college football to his name but with major asterisks on each individual season. You can see his statistical breakdowns, and the three different programs he played for, below. That explains why Stovall isn’t getting much attention in the draft. Melquan Stovall College Stats, courtesy of Sports Reference Standing at 5’9” and 190 pounds, Stovall is a slender but speedy receiver who almost exclusively worked out of the slot. As a mid-three-star prospect out of California, Stovall committed to Nevada out of high school. He saw limited work as a true freshman and sophomore before becoming the Wolfpack’s starting slot receiver in 2021. After that season, though, Nevada head coach Jay Norvell left for the Colorado State job, and Stovall transferred to follow his head coach. However, he opted to sit out after a couple of games and use his redshirt for reasons that were never publicly stated. Once the season ended, Stovall entered the transfer portal again and landed at Arizona State, joining newly-hired head coach Kenny Dillingham. Stovall quickly became the starting slot receiver for the Sun Devils, though the 2023 season – which saw the team win just three games – was marred by quarterback issues; six different players attempted passes in multiple games, including running back Cam Skattebo and tight end Jalin Conyers. The 2024 season saw a huge turnaround for the Sun Devils, as they won the Big 12 and took Texas to two overtimes in the College Football Playoff. Stovall’s production improved too, though he was still impacted by a run-heavy offense built around Skattebo. Now that we’ve explained all the asterisks (read: why Stovall is hoping for a sixth- or seventh-round selection), what makes him so special? Simply put, Stovall is everything you want in a slot receiver. He’s speedy, having run a 4.4 40-yard dash at the Big 12’s combined pro day (Stovall wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine). He’s also quick and explosive, with one of the better athletic profiles among receivers in this draft class: Melquan Stovall is a WR prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 8.81 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 455 out of 3815 WR from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/f3g896Xk1x pic.twitter.com/7XjzyeQbh9 — Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 13, 2025 That often translated to the field, as was evidenced with his touchdown run in the earlier video. Stovall averaged just under seven yards after the catch (YAC) per reception in his two seasons at Arizona State. For context, KaVontae Turpin led all Cowboys receivers in YAC/reception last year with 8.4; no other receiver even topped 5.5 YAC/reception. Not only is Stovall a great athlete, but he’s reliable too. He had a career 4.8% drop rate across his six seasons, with his sophomore season being the only year he was charged with multiple drops in a year. Perhaps the best showcase of Stovall’s sure hands was the controversial non-targeting call in the Peach Bowl this past year, when Stovall was drilled in the head by a Texas safety but no penalty was called, even after review. Regardless of the ruling, though, Stovall held on through a vicious hit late in the fourth quarter of the biggest game he’d ever played in. I don’t understand what targeting is anymore. pic.twitter.com/jlqoGHAIkn — Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 1, 2025 Of course, there are very real issues with Stovall’s player profile. HIs size effectively limits him to a slot role, and his lack of elite production regardless of asterisks is going to scare teams away. That’s why Stovall is likely headed for undrafted free agency, though some savvy team may take a late flyer on him in the sixth or seventh round. No matter where Stovall ends up going, though, some team is going to get very lucky. He has a rare combination of experience, athleticism, and untapped potential that isn’t entirely dissimilar from other once-overlooked receiver prospects like Stefon Diggs or Puka Nacua. Given where they can acquire Stovall, the Cowboys would be wise to give him a serious look.

James Snook-Imagn Images What are your NFL expectations from Travis Hunter? The NFL Draft begins one week from today and it feels like there is a lot that we think we know is going to happen. One of the would-be questions that seems to still be floating around is exactly how successful Travis Hunter is going to be at the professional level. It feels obvious that success is destined for him, but the type of it is going to be fascinating to watch unfold. Will it all be at one position? Some at both? All at both? He is a truly unique player and prospect. For our Thursday discussion here at the site we want to know what your expectations in the NFL are for Hunter, although obviously that is somewhat dependent on which team he finds himself on. At the moment the Cleveland Browns feel like the most logical option. Let us know what you think in the comments below!