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The Dallas Cowboys said they wanted game-changers early in the 2025 NFL draft. Armed with two of the first 44 draft picks, they have a prime opportunity to do just that. They could have their pick of the litter at receiver at No. 12 and could very easily select an elite running back prospect at No. 44. If game-changers are what they want, game-changers are on the menu.
Given the needs of the roster, there’s no reason not to take the Cowboys at their word. Aside from CeeDee Lamb, there’s no one remotely resembling a starting WR on the current roster and the RB group is comprised of nothing more than various styles of role players. If the Cowboys are true to their word, it would make perfect sense to go WR and RB early, even if it would be a departure from the norm.
Over the past 10 seasons (dating back to the 2014 draft) the Cowboys have invested a total of just five, top-100 picks in skill positions such as tight end, running back and wide receiver. They used first rounders on RB Ezekiel Elliott and on Lamb, a second rounder on TE Luke Schoonmaker, and third rounders on WRs Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert. In all, very little draft capital has been dedicated to the playmaking positions on offense.
The types of gamechangers the Cowboys have targeted with early picks have generally been linemen.
Last year all three of their top-100 picks went to the offensive or defensive lines. In 2023 they picked one lineman after selecting two in 2022. They had 10 top-100 picks between 2019 and 2021, five of them went to linemen. From 2016-2018 they selected one lineman each draft and back in 2014 and 2015 they selected two in each draft.
While it’s probably too early to declare a verdict on the likes of Tyler Guyton and Marshawn Kneeland, the Cowboys hit rate on these linemen picks hasn’t been particularly high. Perhaps that’s cause for a strategic change this year.
Smart money says the Cowboys swim upstream against their track record and select a WR first with an eye on RB as soon as the second round. The Cowboys scouted all the first round graded WRs as official 30 visits and they hosted a trio of top graded RBs official visits as well, thus making the second round a distinct possibility. But such actions would be a bold step for a franchise that traditionally values linemen above all. Keep in mind, over the past decade Dallas has never invested two top 100 picks on offensive skill players in the same draft.
Every year is a blank slate and new opportunity, so Cowboys fans could very well see their team attacking skill positions like never before.
Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: If Dallas Cowboys draft WR, RB early it would be strange territory
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Given the needs of the roster, there’s no reason not to take the Cowboys at their word. Aside from CeeDee Lamb, there’s no one remotely resembling a starting WR on the current roster and the RB group is comprised of nothing more than various styles of role players. If the Cowboys are true to their word, it would make perfect sense to go WR and RB early, even if it would be a departure from the norm.
Over the past 10 seasons (dating back to the 2014 draft) the Cowboys have invested a total of just five, top-100 picks in skill positions such as tight end, running back and wide receiver. They used first rounders on RB Ezekiel Elliott and on Lamb, a second rounder on TE Luke Schoonmaker, and third rounders on WRs Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert. In all, very little draft capital has been dedicated to the playmaking positions on offense.
The types of gamechangers the Cowboys have targeted with early picks have generally been linemen.
Last year all three of their top-100 picks went to the offensive or defensive lines. In 2023 they picked one lineman after selecting two in 2022. They had 10 top-100 picks between 2019 and 2021, five of them went to linemen. From 2016-2018 they selected one lineman each draft and back in 2014 and 2015 they selected two in each draft.
While it’s probably too early to declare a verdict on the likes of Tyler Guyton and Marshawn Kneeland, the Cowboys hit rate on these linemen picks hasn’t been particularly high. Perhaps that’s cause for a strategic change this year.
Smart money says the Cowboys swim upstream against their track record and select a WR first with an eye on RB as soon as the second round. The Cowboys scouted all the first round graded WRs as official 30 visits and they hosted a trio of top graded RBs official visits as well, thus making the second round a distinct possibility. But such actions would be a bold step for a franchise that traditionally values linemen above all. Keep in mind, over the past decade Dallas has never invested two top 100 picks on offensive skill players in the same draft.
Every year is a blank slate and new opportunity, so Cowboys fans could very well see their team attacking skill positions like never before.
Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: If Dallas Cowboys draft WR, RB early it would be strange territory
Continue reading...
