Cowboys Drop to 12th Pick, What's Available?

After a disappointing 2024 season headlined by quarterback Dak Prescott needing hamstring surgery, sidelining him for the remaining nine games of the season, the Dallas Cowboys are ready to look ahead to the offseason. 

With the final week of regular-season NFL action coming to a close, draft positioning has begun to settle, and the Dallas Cowboys have the 12th overall pick with their 7-10 record. 

In recent years, the 12th pick has yielded some quality contributors. Perhaps the best in recent memory is the Cowboys' own Micah Parsons. The Cowboys traded down from the 10th pick in 2021 to draft Parsons at 12. 

Since Parsons, the Lions held the pick in back-to-back years, taking Jahmyr Gibbs, who coming into this week was sixth in the NFL in both rushing yards and touchdowns, and Jameson Williams. Williams is coming into Week 18 threatening a 1,000 yard season, entering the night with 967 despite playing in only 14 games and starting 10.

Last year's 12th pick, Bo Nix, just led the Broncos to a playoff berth as a rookie. Some other highlight and/or name 12th picks include Deshaun Watson, Odell Beckham Jr., Fletcher Cox, and Marshawn Lynch. 

In terms of this year's class, there is certainly some interesting talent to be available at the 12th pick. USA Today currently has the Cowboys taking Missouri wideout Luther Burden III with the 12th pick. Burden is an electric receiver who is a YAC machine. 

Tankathon's mock draft has the Cowboys selecting Heisman runner up Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty ran for over 2,600 yards this season at Boise State, finding the end zone 30 times from scrimmage.

The Cowboys could also see themselves targeting a defensive player in the first, such as Georgia's Jason Walker, or Texas A&M's Nic Scourton. Offensive line is also never a bad idea in the draft, with Minnesota's behemoth tackle Aireontae Ersery and Texas's Kelvin Banks Jr. likely going in that range.