Cowboys 2025 NFL Draft takeaways: Several immediate contributors, but big need remains

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The Dallas Cowboys came into the 2025 NFL Draft with 10 selections and a long list of needs to fill. Upon completion of the draft, Dallas addressed some of those needs by adding nine players.

After Tetairoa McMillan went off the board before the Cowboys could pick at No. 12, Dallas opted to not select a wide receiver in the draft. That leaves a big hole at No. 2 receiver that the organization will need to address through a trade or a late free-agency signing.

Wide receiver aside, the Cowboys managed to address some of their needs while taking a best-player-available approach.

• They found Zack Martin’s replacement at right guard in Round 1.

• They bolstered the defensive line with an edge rusher in Round 2, along with a couple of defensive tackles

• They added a potential starting cornerback in Round 3 and drafted a couple of running backs on Day 3.

The Cowboys don’t have a ready-for-season roster coming out of this weekend, but that’s more of an indictment on their free-agency activity (or lack thereof) than their draft work. Let’s take a look at what stood out from Dallas’ nine-player haul.

Best value pick

Savon Revel Jr. Cornerback was one of Dallas’ biggest needs entering the draft. While Revel has injury concerns — he’s recovering from a torn ACL and partial meniscus tear in his left knee — he has first-round talent when he’s healthy. Some experts had Revel projected as a second-round pick. The Cowboys considered him in that round. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Revel ranked as the No. 62 overall player in this class. That seems like pretty good value at Pick 76. Revel should compete for a starting spot when he’s healthy. He could be limited early in training camp but he has a chance to be ready for Week 1. More cornerback help could be needed depending on when Trevon Diggs is able to return from his knee injury, but Dallas has at least filled two starting-caliber spots by trading for Kaiir Elam and drafting Revel on Friday.

Most surprising pick

Tyler Booker. The offensive line needed help, it just didn’t seem like a bigger need than wide receiver, running back or cornerback. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan would have been the pick if he was still available at No. 12, but he went to Carolina at No. 8. Wide receiver was still a decent fit at the pick with Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden available. What about trading back, gaining a Day 2 pick and potentially still getting a quality first-round player at a position of need? Dallas didn’t like that plan more than sticking with the safe pick. That doesn’t mean it was a bad one. Booker looks to be a quality Day 1 starter with the upside to be outstanding. With Zack Martin retiring, it’s natural to plug Booker in at right guard.

Biggest question mark

Wide receiver. The Cowboys don’t need a No. 1 wide receiver. They don’t need a No. 3, 4, 5 or 6 wide receiver. They’re missing a No. 2. That’s why McMillan would have been the ideal fit if he fell to Pick 12. Now, Dallas will have to try to find another way to fill that spot. They’ll speak highly of the current players on the roster, but this seems like a spot where a trade for a veteran has to be in play. Jerry Jones said before the draft that they were considering two “pretty substantive” trades. He added that they could still be in play after the draft. It’s a good bet that wide receiver is one of those potential moves. If not, wide receiver will be one of their biggest questions entering the season.

Remaining needs

The most glaring need is their biggest question mark, which is the No. 2 wide receiver spot. Aside from that, they still somewhat have a need at running back. Drafting Jaydon Blue in the fifth round gives the backfield a boost but Blue doesn’t profile as a true RB1. Blue does inject speed into the current running back committee, and seventh-round pick Phil Mafah brings more of a downhill, physical element. Aside from wide receiver and running back, the Cowboys could use another cornerback. They could use another defensive tackle, too, but they addressed that to some extent by selecting the big one-technique run-stuffer from UCLA, Jay Toia, in the seventh round. It would be a tall task to add a difference-making defensive tackle at this juncture of the offseason. Adding depth at offensive line and edge rusher helped solidify two spots that needed help.

Post-draft outlook

Just an initial glance at the depth chart, there isn’t too much work left to get a competitive team on the field for training camp. Quarterback, offensive line, tight end, linebacker, defensive line and safety each are pretty much locked in. The Cowboys may have not gotten the running back many would have liked but they have a collection of players they feel can form their depth chart. They also feel they bolstered the running game through the offensive line. Adding Revel upgraded the cornerback position and defensive tackle is about where you’d expect it to be. There’s no question they need to make a significant move at wide receiver, but that should take care of what was realistically expected going into training camp.

(Photo of Tyler Booker: Gary Cosby Jr. / Imagn Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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