The Dallas Cowboys finished well outside the playoff picture, but there is plenty to get excited about heading into 2025. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb were both injured last year, and an impactful 12th overall selection could jumpstart this franchise into the postseason. Dallas has a total of 10 picks at the 2025 NFL draft but will need to get creative, with 7 of those 10 selections coming in the 5th round or later.
Dallas Cowboys Needs and Draft Strategy
Running Back:
Several positions need upgrading in Dallas, but the running back is the top priority. The days of Ezekiel Elliott dominating defenses are over, and Rico Dowdle is not the primary running back of the future. Dallas struggled on the ground last season and doesn’t have the players in-house to make the necessary adjustments. Ashton Jeanty stands out after he came close to breaking the single-season rushing record last year, but an early pick on Jeanty will prevent the Cowboys from upgrading other positions.
Offensive Line:
Future Hall of Famer Zack Martin will be hitting the open market this summer, and the Cowboys are in desperate need of help with their offensive line. Martin has been a crucial part of the Cowboys for more than a decade and will leave a massive hole up front for the Dallas offense.
Linebacker:
A dominant linebacker can solidify a struggling defense. Dallas can look next door at the Washington Commanders who brought in Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner for inspiration, but the Cowboys may take a longer-term approach to this position. The Cowboys have been without a dominant linebacker for a few years now, and an early-round pick at this position could be the answer to their ongoing struggles.
How many picks do the Dallas Cowboys have in the 2025 Draft?
The Dallas Cowboys have 10 draft picks in the 2025 NFL draft. Their top selection is the 12th overall pick in the first round, a pick they secured by finishing 7-10 last season. Dallas has a higher than average quantity of draft picks, but they lack the early round selections, with 7 of their 10 picks coming 150th or later.
Their selections this year are as follows:
- 1st Round: 12th Overall
- 2nd Round: 44th Overall
- 3rd Round: 76th Overall
- 5th Round: 150th Overall
- 5th Round: 170th Overall
- 5th Round: 172nd Overall
- 5th Round: 174th Overall
- 6th Round: 190th Overall
- 6th Round: 211th Overall
- 7th Round: 250th Overall
Dallas traded away their fourth round pick to the Carolina Panthers for receiver Jonathan Mingo. Mingo has the potential to make an impact, but it is clear the Cowboys overpaid at the trade deadline. Dallas made up for it with a variety of late round selections. They got some of these in the trade market, but most will come from compensatory picks due to their free agent losses. The Cowboys will need to find a diamond in the rough late in the NFL draft otherwise it could be another disappointing season in Dallas.
Potential Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2025
1st Round, 12th Overall: Ashton Jeanty (Running Back, Boise State)
It is rare to see NFL teams use an early-round selection on a running back, as the position has been seen as expendable in recent seasons. However, with the dominant play of Saquon Barkley carrying the Eagles to a Super Bowl, the Cowboys may elect to swing for the fences with Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty is a strong, elusive running back who already looks ready to terrorize the NFL. He came close to breaking the rushing record last season in the NCAA and appears dead set on dominating the NFL, too. A player with this kind of mentality is exactly what the Cowboys have been missing in the backfield, and owner Jerry Jones will happily spend his first round pick on a player of this caliber.
2nd Round, 44th Overall: Emery Jones Jr. (Offensive Line, LSU)
The Cowboys need to use a top pick on an offensive lineman, and Emery Jones Jr. is a great candidate to do the job. The loss of Zack Martin will be hard for the Cowboys to swallow, but Jones Jr. has the size needed to be a dominant lineman in the NFL. He comes in at 6’6” and 322 pounds and will likely put on a few more pounds before he makes his NFL debut.
3rd Round, 76th Overall: TreVeyon Henderson (Running Back, Ohio State)
TreVeyon Henderson, who won the National Championship last season, has championship experience and is a great candidate for the Cowboys’ mid-round selection. Henderson is a good alternative to Jeanty if the Cowboys elect to upgrade to a different position in the early stages. He lacks the height of other dominant running backs, but his 208-pound frame is not easy to bring to the ground. He has the potential to rip off explosive runs, and his lateral movement and low center of gravity make him the perfect NFL running back.
