Dallas Cowboys News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Brian Schottenheimer can prove he's a different Dallas Cowboys head coach if this happens in the 2025 NFL Draft

Originally posted on A to Z Sports
By Mauricio Rodriguez | Last updated Apr 24, 2025 3:11 PM ET

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be starting the clock on the Tennessee Titans in a matter of hours. Not long after that, the Dallas Cowboys will be on the clock at 12th overall (barring a wild trade up).

The pick they make will obviously go a long way in how the Cowboys' 2025 season ends up playing out. If they choose a first-round wide receiver, that's somebody you can expect to start Day 1. The same if Dallas targets an offensive lineman as the door for competition will be wide open with the likes of Brock Hoffman and Terence Steele.

But beyond the starting lineup and overall roster needs, this year's draft class could show Brian Schottenheimer's influence on the Cowboys' team-building habits in his first year as head coach.

Football character has been a growing theme in the days leading up to the NFL Draft. FOX insider Jay Glazer posted on X he's seeing "most teams" he's talked to taking players off the board if they don't love football.

"This was the first year it was so prevalent," Glazer wrote. "I asked around why that is and the thought was because of NIL money, guys have already been paid and some feel they don’t need to grind to get paid."

Interesting thing came up in my draft prep calls, for years teams have pulled players off the board for A) injury concerns or B) character concerns.

A third category/reason has been added and most teams I talked to had guys off their board for: “Doesn’t love football.” This was…
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 23, 2025

Mike Fisher from Sports Illustrated reported Schottenheimer is "pounding the table" for high character players, which goes in line with what he declared in his introductory press conference. He admittedly considers strong relationships to be his calling card as a head coach and it's obviously easier to do that with the right men on the locker room.

For years, the Cowboys have been willing to draft players with character concerns coming out of college, particularly in the second round; Kelvin Joseph, Randy Gregory, Josh Ball, Sam Williams, Trysten Hill.

Going into this year's NFL Draft, it's become clear they're considering a similar approach if the opportunity arises.

Specifically, the Cowboys hosted Ole Miss DL Walter Nolen on a pre-draft visit, an indicator that they might not shy away from one of the top defensive line talents should he fall to the 44th overall pick in the second round. Daniel Jeremiah's final mock draft of the year had Nolen dropping out of the first round while Dane Brugler had him in the Top 11 picks, showing how much disagreement there is around him.

If he's there at No. 44, would the Cowboys pull the trigger on him despite the concerns? If not, Schottenheimer's mindset would truly be permeating the building.

"The one thing you didn’t mention was the person," the Cowboys head coach told reporters Tuesday. "We’re looking for those world‑class competitors—the guys who come in, work hard, and are passionate about what they do. It really is a puzzle you’re trying to fit together, and to me, traits are just one piece of that puzzle."

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: