The Dallas Cowboys never did draft the receiver most projections had them filling, instead focusing on their other needs and generally taking value over position.
The result was a draft grading anywhere from a little above average to great. Of course, the proof is several years away, but the consensus is that the Cowboys added some useful parts for their rebuild.
Given how quiet Dallas has been in free agency, and they still could use a No. 2 receiver, the draft was pivotal and the Cowboys seem to have done OK. Here are some grades.
“It might not have been exactly what the fan base was hoping for – Jeanty – but owner Jerry Jones and his front office generally do a pretty solid job this time of year. Aside from being a bully on the field, first-round G Tyler Booker not only fills a need but could provide fresh leadership in the locker room in time. Second-round DE Donovan Ezeiruaku and third-round CB Shavon Revel Jr. were certainly worthy of being taken a round earlier than they were. Fifth-round RB Jaydon Blue brings sub-4.4 speed if not the background to suggest he can shoulder the load on the ground. Receiving depth behind WR CeeDee Lamb still looms as a significant question.”
“The Cowboys bypassed the available offensive skill-position players and defensive talent at No. 12 to replace the retired Zack Martin with Booker. The former Alabama guard is a proven starter out of the SEC, but he did not impress in athletic testing this spring. Ezeiruaku projects as the next Demarcus Lawrence, while Revel could be a nice Day 2 find if he’s able to stay healthy (coming off an ACL tear).”
“Zack Martin’s retirement in March left a hole on the Cowboys’ interior offensive line. Booker, the 48th-ranked prospect on the PFF Big Board, profiles as a bit of a reach but a talent who fills a definite need up front in Dallas. The Alabama guard earned an 86.5 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024, which will provide an instant boost to a Cowboys offense that ranked 23rd in PFF pass-blocking grade (62.1) this past season.”
“After some highly questionable drafts of late, Jerry and Stephen Jones — and Will McClay — have totally redeemed themselves in 2025. Ok, so I didn’t love the Tyler Booker selection at No. 12 overall due to his athletic deficiencies. But I will acknowledge guard was a monster need on this offense.
Beyond that, Ezeiruaku was picked at proper value and gives Micah Parsons a new, young running mate on the edge. Revel was a sensational find at No. 76, and Blue has serious juice when there’s a lane out of the backfield.”
“Give Jerry Jones and the Cowboys some credit. For a franchise that once prioritized playmakers — sometimes irresponsibly — Dallas chose to begin its draft with the biggest, nastiest blocker of this class in Tyler Booker, wisely providing the girth and guts needed to combat the dominant defensive lines of the NFC East. Further, Day 2 picks Donovan Ezeiruaku and Shavon Revel Jr. were quality value selections who filled positions that had been decimated in recent years by free-agent defections and injuries.”
“I did like what the Cowboys did on Day 2, adding edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., both of whom could have landed in the first round if everything broke right. They have the potential to be early starters for a Dallas defense undergoing a ton of turnover. Ezeiruaku could help fans forget about Lawrence, whose time with the team ended unceremoniously.”
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft grades 2025: They did reasonably well
The Dallas Cowboys never did draft the receiver most projections had them filling, instead focusing on their other needs and generally taking value over position.
The result was a draft grading anywhere from a little above average to great. Of course, the proof is several years away, but the consensus is that the Cowboys added some useful parts for their rebuild.
Given how quiet Dallas has been in free agency, and they still could use a No. 2 receiver, the draft was pivotal and the Cowboys seem to have done OK. Here are some grades.
“It might not have been exactly what the fan base was hoping for – Jeanty – but owner Jerry Jones and his front office generally do a pretty solid job this time of year. Aside from being a bully on the field, first-round G Tyler Booker not only fills a need but could provide fresh leadership in the locker room in time. Second-round DE Donovan Ezeiruaku and third-round CB Shavon Revel Jr. were certainly worthy of being taken a round earlier than they were. Fifth-round RB Jaydon Blue brings sub-4.4 speed if not the background to suggest he can shoulder the load on the ground. Receiving depth behind WR CeeDee Lamb still looms as a significant question.”
“The Cowboys bypassed the available offensive skill-position players and defensive talent at No. 12 to replace the retired Zack Martin with Booker. The former Alabama guard is a proven starter out of the SEC, but he did not impress in athletic testing this spring. Ezeiruaku projects as the next Demarcus Lawrence, while Revel could be a nice Day 2 find if he’s able to stay healthy (coming off an ACL tear).”
“Zack Martin’s retirement in March left a hole on the Cowboys’ interior offensive line. Booker, the 48th-ranked prospect on the PFF Big Board, profiles as a bit of a reach but a talent who fills a definite need up front in Dallas. The Alabama guard earned an 86.5 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024, which will provide an instant boost to a Cowboys offense that ranked 23rd in PFF pass-blocking grade (62.1) this past season.”
“After some highly questionable drafts of late, Jerry and Stephen Jones — and Will McClay — have totally redeemed themselves in 2025. Ok, so I didn’t love the Tyler Booker selection at No. 12 overall due to his athletic deficiencies. But I will acknowledge guard was a monster need on this offense.
Beyond that, Ezeiruaku was picked at proper value and gives Micah Parsons a new, young running mate on the edge. Revel was a sensational find at No. 76, and Blue has serious juice when there’s a lane out of the backfield.”
“Give Jerry Jones and the Cowboys some credit. For a franchise that once prioritized playmakers — sometimes irresponsibly — Dallas chose to begin its draft with the biggest, nastiest blocker of this class in Tyler Booker, wisely providing the girth and guts needed to combat the dominant defensive lines of the NFC East. Further, Day 2 picks Donovan Ezeiruaku and Shavon Revel Jr. were quality value selections who filled positions that had been decimated in recent years by free-agent defections and injuries.”
“I did like what the Cowboys did on Day 2, adding edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., both of whom could have landed in the first round if everything broke right. They have the potential to be early starters for a Dallas defense undergoing a ton of turnover. Ezeiruaku could help fans forget about Lawrence, whose time with the team ended unceremoniously.”
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft grades 2025: They did reasonably well
