Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Cowboys Insider Reviews Kiper's New 3-Round Draft Predictions

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Apr 16, 2025 1:34 AM ET

For most, the Dallas Cowboys' early selections have already been nailed to the mast; it is just a matter of what order they are taken in.

With running back, receiver, and corner seen as big needs, the Cowboys, who have picks 12, 44, and 76, need to hit on all three.

Clearly, the focus is on the first two picks with a receiver and running back touted to be taken, but we shift our focus to the third round.

In Mel Kiper Jr.'s joint mock draft with Field Yates for ESPN, in the third round, after taking Matthew Golden and Shavon Revel Jr. in the first two rounds, Dallas finally gets its running back in Tennessee star Dylan Sampson.

"The Cowboys focused on other needs early, but they finally get their running back -- and Sampson has good upside," Kiper Jr. writes. "He ran for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns last season."

In what was Sampson's only time being the full-time starter in 2024, he ran wild, for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Says our long-time Cowboys beat writer Mike Fisher: "Now that Kiper has gotten off the wrong-headed idea of a running back at No. 12? We know Dallas met with Sampson at his Pro Day. And we know about what they think of Golden and Revel.

"This all fits.''

If the Sampson piece works, as Dallas needs a starting running back here? Fish is right. And Kiper will be right.

Armed with an internal clock unlike any other back in the class that can slow time down, similarly to Le'Veon Bell in his prime, Sampson (5-9, 209 and a 4.43 40) has patience as he stays behind his blockers, but once he sees an opening, the gas pedal hits the floor.

His pass protection skills need work, but there's no denying Sampson as a runner. If he does land in Dallas, we imagine that coaches Conor Riley and Klayton Adams will work tirelessly to improve his ball security and pass protection ability, but as a genuine runner, Sampson could be quite the find in the third round.

The Cowboys need running back help, and in Sampson, get a patient runner who has the speed and intelligence to hurt teams in the worst way possible.

As Fish says ... "This all fits.''

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: