When the 2025 NFL Draft wrapped, the biggest question around the Cowboys wasn’t about who they did take-it was about who they didn’t. With a glaring need for a second wide receiver to line up opposite CeeDee Lamb, fans and analysts were scratching their heads. Why not address it?
Turns out, Jerry Jones had a plan. And while Cowboys Nation might’ve expected flash, what they got instead was foundation. According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, NFL execs are surprisingly bullish on the Cowboys’ decisions-especially their first three picks.
The Cowboys were eyeing Alabama’s Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8, but when he went off the board, they pivoted to Alabama guard Tyler Booker at No. 12. The response? Overwhelmingly positive. “Best guard in the draft,” one exec told Sando. Booker was a three-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and didn’t allow a single sack last season. He’s big, nasty, and already looks like a Day 1 starter.
A draft built on leadership, not just Ttalent
The second and third rounds followed the same philosophy: production, leadership, and toughness. Boston College pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku was a team captain who racked up accolades and now gets to line up opposite Micah Parsons. One exec put it bluntly: “Their pass rush is going to be a pain in the ass.”
Then came cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., taken in the third. He’s tall, aggressive, and smart-Seattle-style corner vibes. An ACL injury in 2024 pushed him down the board, but insiders are calling him one of the steals of the draft.
These weren’t just high-upside guys-they were high-character guys. Both Booker and Ezeiruaku wore the “C” on their jerseys in college. It’s no coincidence. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer seems intent on building a locker room that’s as tight as it is talented.
Still, not everything is sunshine and Super Bowl parades.
Booker, for all his upside, raised a red flag for some execs: stamina. He was once listed at 350+ pounds and only recently trimmed down. “He runs out of gas,” one source told Sando. He’s a force in tight spaces, but if he has to pull or track a linebacker in space, he struggles.
The hope in Dallas? Strength and conditioning-and smart game-planning-will keep him on track. The offensive line finished 17th in PFF’s O-Line+ metric in 2024, so improvement is necessary, but Booker is expected to help with that immediately.
Meanwhile, the elephant in the room-no wide receiver-still lingers. But the execs are brushing it off. “You’re paying Lamb $34 million a year,” one said. “You can find another guy.”
The Cowboys might test that theory soon. Rumors continue to swirl around free agents like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen, or even a possible trade. Either way, the team has options.
For now, Jones is getting quiet nods of approval from NFL insiders. The picks were smart, tough, and team-first. If the Cowboys can patch the WR hole with a veteran and Booker holds up across 17 games, we might be talking about this draft as a turning point-not a misstep.
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