Dallas Cowboys' 2025 NFL Draft grades

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2025 NFL draft with one of the most top-heavy rosters in the league. They possess blue-chip talent headlined by CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, and Trevon Diggs, but lack quality depth. After three consecutive 12-5 campaigns from 2021-2023, the Dallas Cowboys stumbled to a 7-10 record in 2024. They endured a season-ending injury to their starting quarterback and a defense that, by any measure, was historically bad.  With 9 picks at their disposal, they had a real opportunity to find players who could contribute immediately. Here are the draft grades for each selection and how they fit.

Dallas Cowboys 2025 NFL Draft Grades

Round 1, Pick 12 (12 overall): Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

With the 12^th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…Tyler Booker? To be fair, the Dallas Cowboys have a proven track record of drafting first-round offensive linemen, but this pick is a reach. Tyler Booker is a mauler on the inside, with outstanding intangibles and a physical edge. He’s a high-floor player who will step in and immediately fill the void left by Zach Martin’s retirement. But Booker tested poorly at the combine—worst among all offensive linemen—and doesn’t bring the athleticism or positional versatility to justify a top-15 selection. Tyler Booker is a good football player who should be a solid starter for a long time, but Dallas drafted for need instead of upside, and passed on more dynamic talent to do it.

Full Tyler Booker Scouting Report

Cowboys Draft Grade: C+

Round 2, Pick 12 (44 overall): Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

You can never have enough pass rushers, and the Dallas Cowboys needed one. Donovan Ezeiruaku is a long, flexible athlete who uses active hands and one of the most diverse pass-rush repertoires to keep offensive tackles off balance and win at the point of contact. He had a standout final season at Boston College, being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and winning the Ted Hendricks Award for best defensive end in college football. He’s slightly undersized for an edge rusher, and there are concerns about his ability to impact the run game, where Dallas struggled mightily last year. Still, he possesses a relentless motor and high football IQ, which should allow him to make an immediate impact. Slotting in opposite Micah Parsons, he will see plenty of one-on-one opportunities, which should lead to solid production as a rookie.

Full Donovan Ezeiruaku Scouting Report

Cowboys Draft Grade: B+

Round 3, Pick 12 (76 overall): Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

The Dallas Cowboys love big, rangy corners. Shavon Revel Jr. is a long, physical cornerback with tremendous ball skills and top-end speed. He uses length and physicality to comfortably disrupt receivers in press-man, while also being able to quickly identify route combinations in zone schemes. He plays well through contact, but can get a little handsy, especially playing off the receiver. There are some health concerns, as his final year was limited to three games due to an ACL tear, and he may start the year on the physically unable to perform list. That said, landing him at 76 feels like a steal. Corner was one of Dallas’ biggest needs heading into this year’s draft, and they landed one with high upside. The Cowboys needed a starting-caliber cornerback, and if he’s healthy by week 1, there’s a good chance we’ll see Shavon Revel Jr. in the starting lineup.

Full Shavon Revel Jr. Scouting Report

Cowboys Draft Grade: B

Round 5, Pick 11 (149 overall): Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas

In desperate need of running back help, the Dallas Cowboys finally grabbed one with their first fifth-round pick. Jaydon Blue is quick-footed and has home-run speed and explosiveness. He has excellent lateral agility and can accelerate quickly through holes and make defenders miss in tight spaces. He is undersized for an every-down NFL back and projects more as a complementary piece than a workhorse. He will need to improve ball security to earn a consistent place in a backfield rotation. Blue will compete for touches with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, likely as a third-down/change-of-pace option. Cowboys fans hoping to come away with an every-down back in this draft leave disappointed.

Full Jaydon Blue Scouting Report

Cowboys Draft Grade: B- 

Round 5, Pick 16 (152 overall): Shemar James, LB, Florida

Shemar James is a rangy, athletic linebacker who plays with high energy and sideline-to-sideline speed. He plays downhill in the run game and is an elusive target when blitzing. His athleticism in space stands out on film, but he will need to improve his play recognition and consistency in coverage. James projects to begin his career as a special-teamer, but may work into the rotation depending on Overshown’s recovery timeline. He should also benefit from the tutelage of new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, a linebackers coach by trade. Eberflus took Jack Sanborn—now a Cowboy and former undrafted player—and turned him into a reliable starter. At this stage in the draft, securing a high-motor player with leadership qualities represents good value.

Cowboys Draft Grade: B

Round 6, Pick 28 (204 overall): Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon

Ajani Cornelius is a physical player with a mean streak and natural power at the point of attack. He was a two-year starter at Oregon and helped anchor one of college football’s most productive offenses in 2024. He uses his long arms and heavy hands to keep defenders off his chest. He also has good heft in his lower body to anchor and re-engage if necessary. Dallas will likely bump him inside to guard, where his toughness and run-blocking ability project more cleanly. He should compete with T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman for a reserve role on the interior.

Full Ajani Cornelius Scouting Report

Cowboys Draft Grade: C+

Round 7, Pick 1 (217 overall): Jay Toia, DT, UCLA

Jay Toia is a stout, powerful nose tackle with the size to anchor against doubles and eat up space. A three-year starter at UCLA, he showed violent club moves and enough power to collapse the pocket occasionally. His effort and raw strength stand out on tape, but he lacks ideal length and quickness. This limits his ability to cleanly shed blocks or consistently penetrate gaps. He’s a two-down player who is limited to early downs and goal-line/short-yardage situations. The Cowboys needed depth on the interior defensive line, and Toia can be a space-eater for them. With Mazi Smith underperforming and no true “run-stuffer” on the roster, Toia will have a chance to compete for a rotational spot.

Cowboys Draft Grade: C

Round 7, Pick 23 (239 overall): Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson

If Jaydon Blue is lightning, Phil Mafah is thunder. He’s a big, powerful runner with a sturdy frame and a downhill, between-the-tackles running style. He gets behind his pads, accelerates through contact, and finishes runs with toughness. He lacks top-end speed and lateral agility, which limits his ability to create explosive plays. He has capable hands and is a willing pass-blocker, but offers little in terms of dynamic play-making. He’ll bring a change of pace to Dallas, which typically leans on leaner, shiftier backs. But the running back room is crowded—six at the moment—and he will have to show potential quickly if he wants to make the 53-man roster.

Full Phil Mafah Scouting Report

Cowboys Draft Grade: C-

Round 7, Pick 31 (247 overall): Tommy Akingbesote, DT, Maryland

Tommy Akingbesote is a long, athletic defensive lineman with the versatility to line up at multiple spots along the interior. He showed good quickness off the ball and used his length to stack and shed blockers, finishing his final season with a career-high 32 tackles. His foot agility and swim move offer pass-rush upside, but he needs to develop more strength at the point of attack. Akingbesote is a developmental project that will need time to refine his technique and add functional power. The Cowboys could look to groom him as a depth piece capable of playing both inside and outside in multiple fronts. He will likely spend his rookie season developing and learning, but his ability to play multiple spots gives him a chance to stick as a rotational piece.

Cowboys Draft Grade: C-

The Dallas Cowboys 2025 NFL Draft Final Verdict

The Dallas Cowboys came into the 2025 NFL Draft with a new head coach and many clear needs. Coach Brian Schottenheimer showed us what he values: bodies in the trenches. This class won’t grab headlines, but it fits with what he seems to want—tough, gritty players who can compete and grow into bigger roles. There’s risk in betting heavily on developmental and rotational defenders, but if a few hit, Dallas will have created necessary depth at crucial spots. It’s not a flashy class, but the hope is that it will pay off in the future.