The 2024 NCAA football season is coming to an end and the NFL regular-season is following close with just five games remaining before the postseason gets underway. That means the 2025 NFL Draft season is nearly upon us. And for teams like the Dallas Cowboys who have had a disappointing season, the prep work for the offseason could already be well underway.
The Cowboys have a lot of work to do to get back to being considered one of the better teams in the league. Not only do they need to be much more aggressive in free agency this year unlike last year, but they also need to hit on the majority of their draft picks as well. That, of course, is the goal every offseason, however, things don’t always go as planned. Hopefully, this year is different.
We will put potential free agency moves on the back burner for now and instead attempt to predict the Cowboys first three selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. To do that, we will use the Pro Football Focus (PFF) mock draft simulator. Due to their two-game winning streak, Dallas currently holds the No. 13 overall pick in the first round.
Cowboys Team Needs
The one thing we know about the Cowboys this year is that their roster isn’t nearly as good as many of us believed it to be, and that they have a lot of work to do in the offseason to put together a much more competitive unit. With several longtime starters like Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Osa Odighizuwa potentially leaving via free agency and with the depth exposed at many positions, Dallas has a plethora of roster needs.
Dallas’ primary roster needs are running back, wide receiver, defensive end, and defensive tackle. Not far behind though is cornerback, linebacker, and possibly offensive line and safety as well. We also can’t rule out quarterback. In other words, any and all positions could be in play for the Cowboys in the 2025 NFL Draft.
First 12 Picks Ahead of Dallas
- Jacksonville Jaguars – CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
- Las Vegas Raiders – WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
- New York Giants – DT Mason Graham, Michigan
- New England Patriots – EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
- Carolina Panthers – QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
- New York Jets – CB Will Johnson, Michigan
- Tennessee Titans – WR Luther Burton III, Missouri
- Cleveland Browns – QB Cam Ward, Miami
- Cincinnati Bengals – RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
- New Orleans Saints – EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
- Chicago Bears – OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
- Miami Dolphins – OT Will Campbell, LSU
Cowboys Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 13 – LB/EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia
The Cowboys can kill two birds with one stone by adding Jalon Walker to their defense. While scouts are somewhat split as to what is best position is at the next level, they all agree he can be an impact starter as either an off-ball linebacker or as a pass rusher. With both DeMarcus Lawrence and Eric Kendricks potentially leaving via free agency, Walker could potentially be a Day 1 starter for either as well as add depth at both positions.
Round 2, Pick 45 – OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
With Zack Martin potentially retiring and Terence Steele a potential salary-cap casualty, Dallas could need to replace two starters for the second year in a row. Grey Zabel is this year’s version of Graham Barden due to his versatility to play anywhere along the OL. He was primarily a tackle in college, both left and right, but many believe he’s best inside and possibly the best center in the draft. He could be a plug-and-play starter at OT, OG, or C.
Round 3, Pick 77 – CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Jourdan Lewis could leave via free agency, DaRon Bland is in the last year of his rookie contract, and the CB position has been heavily hit by injuries the past several years. Cornerback could be an underrated roster “need” for the Cowboys this offseason. Maxwell Harrison (6’1″, 189) could fight for reps in his rookie year opposite Trevon Diggs in Dallas’ secondary, allowing Bland to cover the slot.
