The 2025 NFL draft is over, and the Dallas Cowboys made nine picks that were generally liked in totality. The team had significant holes on the roster, like receiver, but unlike the previous two drafts, Dallas avoided reaching for those needs and took the best players on their board. They seem to be following through with how Brian Schottenheimer claimed he wanted to fortify the trenches. Two of their first three picks improved that area, and five of their nine selections were on the two lines.
The Cowboys improved their rushing attack and pass defense mainly. Still, they also strengthened their locker room by adding high-character leaders who, through their actions alone, will help improve the team’s practice, film study, and mentality. Does this mean the team is a contender with no more holes? Obviously not, but the draft shouldn’t be graded on a curve because of how Dallas put the team together before it began. Each pick can be graded by its value at the time of the selection.
Round 1.12 IOL Tyler Booker, Alabama
A plug-and-play upgrade at the offensive line would typically be an A grade, but Tyler Booker doesn’t have versatility across the rest of the offensive line, which lowers his position value. He isn’t one of the Power 5 positions a team wants to draft early. His grade would rise if he were an edge rusher, receiver, cornerback, quarterback, or even an offensive tackle. He was still the best interior offensive lineman in the draft, and a starting-caliber prospect immediately improves the passing and rushing game for the team. Grade: B+
Round 2: 44 Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
The Cowboys’ defensive end group in 2025 was stellar heading into the draft. Micah Parsons is one of the best in the league. Dante Fowler Jr. had 10 sacks last season. They added former first-round pick Payton Turner and have two second-round selections with potential in Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland. But as it stands right now, at the end of the season, Parsons, Williams, Turner, and Fowler Jr. will be free agents. Donovan Ezeiruaku was one of the top pass rushers in this class, and Dallas now adds him to their rotation for the next few seasons. He can be a designated pass rusher early and build into a significant contributor later. Grade: A
Round 3: 76 CB Shavon Revel, Jr., East Carolina
Other than the two-way freak show, Travis Hunter, Shavon Revel Jr. was the best corner in the draft on a lot of scouts’ evaluations, and in the top five on nearly every board. An ACL tear caused him to slip to pick No. 76, where Dallas stole him away. He fits every requirement the Cowboys want in a defensive back. Revel Jr. is tall, has length, is a great athlete, competes against the run and is a playmaker in the back end. He is perfect to pair with All-Pros DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs. Hopefully, they can play together more than they did with Jourdan Lewis. Grade: A+
Round 5: 149 RB Jaydon Blue, Texas
Dallas needed to add juice to the offense, so they drafted running back Jayden Blue, who can take any touch to the house. He might be the fastest player on the roster, and he uses it to get outside on runs and beat angles taken by defenders to create big plays in the running game. He was the top back in the draft class in percentage of total yards gained after contact. He was fourth in the class in yards after contact per carry and the top rusher in yards after being hit behind the line of scrimmage. He is also a mismatch in the passing game if he is up against linebackers or a safety who doesn’t match his athleticism.
He led the class in the percentage of snaps lined up in the slot. New offensive coordinator, Klayton Adams, will enjoy creating plays to try to get Blue into the open field because if he does, Blue could take it to the house. This is another move, along with Booker, that helps both the rushing and passing attack. Grade: A
Round 5: 152 LB Shemar James, Florida
The low grade for Shemar James is a product of the trade-up to pick him, and the fact that other linebackers such as Chris Paul Jr. and Jeffrey Bassa were on the board as higher-rated prospects. James is at his best blitzing the quarterback or moving laterally to make plays. He doesn’t play with anticipation and instincts, but Matt Eberflus has always been a linebacker whisperer, and the coach gets his 20-year-old ball of clay to develop over the next few seasons. Grade: D
Round 6: 204 OL Ajani Cornelius, Oregon
The hardest pick to grade is Ajani Cornelius because he has plenty of college starting-level experience on a top-level team, but isn’t a pick for this season. The Cowboys’ offensive line is loaded with guys, and even if he were hidden on the roster, he would be inactive all season. He has the frame and athleticism to be an excellent lineman, and he moves well when pulling and leading a ball carrier, but he doesn’t have the footwork or technique to be impactful in the NFL. Another ball of clay for the coaching staff to mold, this one on the offensive side. Grade: C+
Round 7: 217 DT Jay Toia, UCLA
The most significant need left on defense for the Cowboys when Jay Toia was drafted was a run-stuffing defensive tackle who could anchor against double teams, which is what he was built to do. He is 6-foot-2, 342 pounds, and had a run defense grade of 70 from Pro Football Focus (PFF) even though he isn’t great in pursuit on stretch runs. He was Dane Brugler’s 13th-rated tackle and had a third-round grade that Dallas stole in the seventh. He is an underrated athlete as well. He played 55 snaps as an off-ball linebacker and had 19 pressures as a nose tackle-sized DT. Grade: B+
Round 7: 239 RB Phil Mafah, Clemson
Dallas filled their need for a running back in the fifth round with Blue. He is the lightning back who brings the speed and breakaway ability, but they still need a punishing inside rusher to get short-yardage runs and close games out by punishing and wearing out opponents. Phil Mafah is a patient, inside runner who will find the hole to get upfield and get the yardage blocked open in front of him. He can run through arm tackles and finish falling forward, but Mafah won’t make defenders miss. He will run over smaller defenders if he gets to the defensive backs. Grade: C+
Round 7: 247 DT Tommy Akingbesote, Maryland
The Cowboys’ final pick was about being the type of guy that the coaches want in the locker room. He brings the correct attitude and work ethic to push those in his defensive unit. He is a project player who just started playing football as a junior in high school. He has a powerful upper body and a quick initial step off the snap, but he is still learning the basics, let alone the little things needed to be a great NFL player. Like James and Cornelius, Akingbesote is a project with a quality frame for coaches to develop. Grade: C-
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 3rd-round CB scores highest grade among Cowboys 2025 draft picks
Reporting by Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
