NFL Draft best available players for Dallas Cowboys: Damien Martinez, Jordan Phillips

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The Athletic has live coverage of the second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Read more of The Athletic’s coverage from the 2025 NFL Draft: Best Players Available |  Round 1 Grades | Rounds 2 & 3 Grades | Round 1 Winners & Losers

The Dallas Cowboys insist that they feel good about running back and wide receiver. They’ve drafted best-player-available through the first three rounds, but that has left them without any upgrades at two positions they needed most entering this year’s draft.

Dallas does not have a fourth-round pick Saturday because of its trade for veteran wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made it sound like they didn’t have plans to trade back into the round, saying they view Mingo as their fourth-round pick. Jones then reminded everyone that they had a second-round grade on Mingo in the 2023 draft. Dallas doesn’t need wide receiver depth. It needs a No. 2 wide receiver. That probably won’t be found in the wide receivers who remain available. A trade seems much more likely at that position.

There’s a strong possibility that a running back is added at some point with the Cowboys’ seven remaining picks.

“This is a deep draft for running backs,” vice president of player personnel Will McClay said Friday night. “We feel comfortable with where the depth is. Running backs in the NFL come from every round. If you look at every round, there are free agents, whatever, and we have to do our job to find the right ones. But there is a lot of depth in this draft.”

(All player rankings based on Dane Brugler’s top 300 prospects list)

Day 3

Running back

74. Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
108. Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
115. DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State
147. Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
159. Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
181. Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
275. Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan

Dallas signed a couple of veterans in free agency, Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but a young back is still needed. Some decent players remain, but will they fall all the way to the Cowboys at Pick 149? “We’re very pleased with what we did in free agency with the two backs that we signed,” Stephen Jones said. “This draft class is deep, so we’re not done yet.”

Wide receiver

201. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas

While it doesn’t feel likely that the Cowboys will add depth options at receiver on Day 3, Bond has some off-the-field concerns that could make him drop and be an intriguing option. “I think we’re deep,” Brian Schottenheimer said of their wide receivers, “in terms of guys that are young, they have talent, they have traits. They need to be developed. That’s part of our job as coaches. At the same time, young receivers, rookie receivers at times there are learning curves. It takes them time. … I really believe we can make a jump with some of the guys (on the roster).”

Offensive line

200. Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
240. Hayden Conner, G, Texas
289. Marcus Tate, G, Clemson
294. Caleb Etienne, OT, BYU

The Cowboys have taken the approach of you can never have too many offensive linemen but they already may have too many offensive linemen. The only reason there’s a handful of options for Day 3 is because many of their guys at the end of the depth chart are external vets and the Cowboys could try to replace them with homegrown talents. But after taking a guard in the first round, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cowboys didn’t touch offensive line the rest of the way.

Defensive line

76. Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
105. Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
121. Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
127. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
139. Kyle Kennard, edge, South Carolina
185. Yahya Black, DT, Iowa
227. Warren Brinson, DT, Georgia
237. Kaimon Rucker, edge, North Carolina
247. Ahmed Hassanein, edge, Boise State
283. Tyler Batty, edge, BYU

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Cowboys throw some darts on the board to improve their defensive line situation. Day 3 players at this spot likely won’t factor into starting roles but can be rotational pieces who play solid situational football. A run-stuffing one-technique will likely be added at some point.

Linebacker

144. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
156. Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State
194. Shemar James, LB, Florida
222. Eugene Asante, LB, Auburn
266. Jackson Woodard, LB, UNLV
280. Jailin Walker, LB, Indiana

Linebacker was arguably the one position the Cowboys upgraded in free agency, with signings and a trade. Still, the uncertainty surrounding DeMarvion Overshown, both with his injury recovery timeline and long-term durability, could have the Cowboys exploring the position, if the right player fell to the right spot. They can look to add a player who is either a pure athlete, a known run-stopping presence or both.

Secondary

169. Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
191. Marques Sigle, S, Kansas State
207. Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA
230. Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas

With a new defensive coordinator in Matt Eberflus, as well as the departure of defensive backs coach Al Harris, the Cowboys could be looking to revamp their defensive backfield. There could be developmental players who can make an instant special teams impact, or even a diamond in the rough. Exceptions shouldn’t be considered the rule but Bland was a fifth-round pick three years ago.

Quarterback

34. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
162. Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame
254. Max Brosmer, QB, Minnesota
285. Seth Henigan, QB, Memphis

Judging by Jerry Jones’ repeated comments about how much they’re paying Dak Prescott, a quarterback isn’t of high priority, especially after recently trading for Joe Milton. But at some point maybe in the sixth or seventh round they take a chance on a prospect they believe has upside. Sanders is unlikely to fall that far, but he was also unlikely to fall to Day 3. Jones provided his thoughts on Sanders still being available Friday night. “I don’t want to make an evaluation,” he said. “But we thought and evaluated him extremely high in this draft. Obviously we have Dak as the highest-paid player in the league. … I know where the character is there (with Sanders), and it is great character.”

(Photo of Damien Martinez: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)

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