Sports Then and Now

The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching and the Dallas Cowboys are in need of impact players on offense and defense that can join their veteran stars and get them back to their franchises’ glorious past. That would be NFC Championship games and Super Bowls, neither of which Dallas has reached in nearly three decades. Twenty-nine seasons have passed since the Cowboys last played in an NFC Championship game which was the 1995 season. While Dallas has had several excellent teams capable of winning a Super Bowl during this drought, they have not been able to get back to that elite level which they were so commonly associated with in the 1970’s and 90’s when they won five Super Bowls and appeared in eight.

The Cowboys have had noteworthy teams in the last decade but they have fallen short in the playoffs. Recent seasons have been above average for Dallas such as their three straight 12-5 regular seasons between 2021 and 2023 with two NFC East division titles. However they went only 1-3 in the playoffs those three seasons. The Cowboys finished just 7-10 in 2024 and missed the playoffs in the fifth and final season of head coach Mike McCarthy.

Other seasons in the last decade were solid. Like in 2018 when Dallas won its’ division, the NFC East, at 10-6 and Dak Prescott got his first playoff win in an NFC wild card victory over Seattle. The Cowboys then lost to the eventual NFC Champion Los Angles Rams in the divisional playoffs. Besides these seasons, Dallas has had just three other seasons that stand out during this 29-season drought. The 2007, ’14, and ’16 Cowboys’ teams had a championship look to them and anyone of those teams could of won the Super Bowl. However it did not play out that way. Despite winning the NFC East each of those three seasons, during which they had a combined regular season record of 38-10, Dallas was just 1-3 in the playoffs. Pro Bowl and All-Pro players along with high draft picks littered the rosters of those teams. The 2007 team went 13-3 and had many franchise icons in Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Terrell Owens. Jason Witten, Julius Jones, DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, Anthony Spencer, Marcus Spears, Terence Newman, and safety Roy Willliams. The 2014 team benefitted greatly by a rebuilt offensive line as the Cowboys had spent three first-round draft picks between 2011 and 2014 on Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin. That group helped pave the way for DeMarco Murray to lead the NFL in rushing and be named the NFL Offensive Player-of-the Year in 2014 when Dallas finished 12-4. A thrilling win over Detroit in the NFC wild card playoffs followed and sent the Cowboys to a frigid NFC divisional round playoff game against the Packers in Green Bay. There, a controversial pass play between Romo and Bryant on fourth-and-two from the Packers 32-yard line with 4:42 left to play in the fourth quarter was ruled no catch and Green Bay ran out the clock to win 26-21. This game is commonly marked in NFL history as the No-Catch Game due to the notoriety it received on this play regarding what a catch is and is not.

Some top players from the ’07 team were still on the ’14 team such as Romo, Witten, and Ware. They were joined by key younger players such as linebacker Sean Lee and wide receiver Terrance Williams. The offensive line remained largely intact for most of the rest of the 2010’s and would welcome rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 when Dallas went 13-3 behind a franchise record 11-game winning streak, a mark that still stands today. That 2016 season is one of only three seasons in franchise history in which the Cowboys have won 13 regular-season games, their most in franchise history.

So what does Dallas need to bolster its’ team and improve its’ chances for postseason success in 2025 and beyond? The answer lies in this weeks NFL Draft which kicks off Thursday April 24 in Green Bay, WI at Lambeau Field and the surrounding Titletown District. The first round kicks off on Thursday at 8 pm ET. Rounds two and three will be held on Friday April 25 starting at 7 pm ET while rounds four through seven will take place on Saturday April 26 starting at noon ET.

The Cowboys are looking up at the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. Also looming are potentially improved teams in the New York Giants and Washington Commanders. The Giants signed Russell Wilson in free agency and the Commanders are coming off a playoff run to the NFC Championship game a season ago. Washington also has added Deebo Samuel, a versatile runner and receiver, to their offense. Thus the NFC East looks to be more competitive in 2025 and Dallas will need to keep up with its’ own division to be a threat.

The Cowboys have already made moves via trade or free agency so far this offseason. They signed running backs Javontae Williams and Miles Sanders, both to one-year contracts. Both backs figure to be pieces of the Dallas running game in 2025. They will compete with holdovers Malik Davis and Deuce Vaughn for spots on the depth chart which is not as deep after Rico Dowdle, last season’s leading rusher with 1,079 yards, was signed by Carolina in free agency. Over the past two seasons in Denver, Williams ran for 1,287 yards and caught 99 passes while scoring nine total touchdowns. Sanders, who followed Saquon Barkley at Penn State, ran for a career low 205 yards last season in Carolina but did have career highs of 1,269 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns in 2022 while playing for the Eagles. While not elite, both Willliams and Sanders are steady backs. However neither should dictate what the Cowboys do in the draft at running back. However with both Williams and Sanders on just one-year deals, it gives Dallas more intriguing thoughts about whether or not to draft a running back this week. In the short term, Williams and Sanders provide insurane for 2025 as well as competition for Davis, Vaughn, and fullback Hunter Luepke who are already in place.

Much like the run game needs attention, the Cowboys’ defense needs a significant upgrade. The wild cards here are how available and/or effective fourth-year defensive end Sam Williams and third-year linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will be after suffering serious kee injuries a year ago. Williams, a second-round draft pick, is expected back but is coming off a torn ACL that cost him all of the 2024 season. Overshown, a third-round draft pick, might not be back until the middle of the 2025 season as he is rehabbing from major knee surgery from a late-season injury in 2024 in which he tore three knee ligaments. To deal with the uncertainity of these rehabs, Dallas signed defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, a veteran who can help counter the loss of Chauncey Golston and team with second-year defensive end Marshawn Kneeland to plug holes. The Cowboys also brought back defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. for a second tour of duty after he played last season in Washington. Fowler had 10 sacks each year while playing for Dallas in 2022 and ’23. Linebackers Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray Jr. along with edge rusher Payton Turner were also signed – all to one year deals – to address the front seven. The Cowboys also got some insurance for their secondary by trading for Buffalo Bills cornerback Kair Elam and a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft. In exchange, Buffalo receives Dallas’ fifth-round pick this year and their seventh-round pick in 2026.

While there have already been some new additions to the Cowboys, others will be needed. Dallas has 10 picks overall in the draft starting with their first-round pick at No. 12 overall. Offensively, the Cowboys are in need of a second wide receiver to complement star wideout CeeDee Lamb after losing Brandin Cooks in free agency to the Saints. Although they signed Robert Jones, a young offensive guard from the Dolphins, they could look to draft an interior offensive lineman now that future Pro Football Hall-of-Fame guard Zack Martin is retired. The offensive line is young and in transition and adding another piece would help protect Prescott. With Trevon Diggs having missed most of the last two seasons with knee injuries, cornerback is a need area for depth. Then there is the need to defend the run better with a defensive tackle to pair with veteran Osa Odighizuwa which Dallas was wise to sign to a four-year $80 million contract extension this offseason. The Cowboys have been plagued against the leagues top rushing attacks each of the last two seasons by giving up big plays through the middle of their defensive front seven. That needs to improve significantly if Dallas is to go far in the playoffs.

Factors like the needs of other teams and how the first six or eight picks go could impact what the Cowboys do in the first round. Based on the state of the franchise and the new personnel they have already acquired this offseason, here is a look at a dozen players Dallas should be targeting in this week’s NFL Draft. Prospects are listed alphabetically here by last name in no particular order of importance.

Kelvin Banks Jr. – Tackle, Texas

Both big and powerful at 6-4 and 320-pounds, Banks Jr. excels as both a pass blocker and a run blocker. He has a wide and broad shouldered frame that he uses to his advantage to fend off pass rushers and maintain his stance. Banks Jr., maintains good balance and reacts well to inside countermoves of his opponents by sealing them off with his strength and long arms that measure 33 1/2″. In the run game, Banks Jr., uses excellent leverage to uproot defenders and clear the way for ball carriers. He operates well in space and continues to dominate at the second level where he takes would-be tacklers out of the play. The Cowboys are in the midst of rebuilding their offensive line having drafted guard Tyler Smith, tackle Tyler Guyton, and center Cooper Beebe over the last three years with Smith and Guyton coming in the first round and Beebe in the third a year ago. Dallas has always prided themselves on offensive line play and drafting Banks Jr., would help them restore the elite unit they had a decade ago with the likes of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin who are all now retired.

Banks Jr., delivered on the forecast others had for him in 2024. After being named to the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award preseason watch lists in 2024, Banks won both awards as the nation’s top lineman a year ago. Banks Jr., played in 42 out of a possible 43 games during his career at Texas, starting in each of the 42 games he played. This shows his consistency as Banks Jr., was a mainstay on the Longhorns offensive line. He was a first team all-conference performer as a sophomore and junior, doing so in the Big 12 in 2023 and the Southeastern Conference in 2024, Texas’ first in the SEC. He was an All-Big 12 second team selection by both the conference’s head coaches and the Associated Press as a freshman in 2022. As a sophomore in 2023, Banks Jr., was part of an offensive line that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award which is given as a group award to the best offensive line in college football. It is the only award in college football that recognizes an entire unit.

Banks Jr., was an integral factor in blocking for NFL draft picks such as Bijan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks at Texas. He blocked for Brooks who was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker award in 2023. Banks Jr., was also part of a unit that blocked for Doak Walker Award winner and unanimous All-America running back Bijan Robinson in 2022 when Banks Jr., was a freshman. He wasted no time in making an impact at Texas where as a freshman he was recognized as the Big 12 Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year by the conference’s head coaches. Banks Jr., paved much of the way for Robinson to rush for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdown in 2022. Banks Jr., also helped Robinson accumulate 314 yards on 19 receptions with two touchdowns in 2022. Both Robinson and Brooks are on current NFL rosters. Robinson is with the Atlanta Falcons while Brooks is with the Carolina Panthers.

Banks Jr., has enjoyed success throughout his football journey as he was an All-America player and four-time all district honoree at Summer Creek High School in Humble, TX. Coming out of high shool he was selected to participate in the 2022 Under Armour All-America Game. Banks Jr., was also ranked No. 29 nationally, No. 3 among offensive tackles, and No. 7 overall in the state of Texas by 247Sports as a college prospect coming out of high school in 2022.

Jahdae Barron – Cornerback, Texas

The Cowboys do have two quality starting cornerbacks in Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland. The trade for Kaiir Elam will also help. However Diggs is coming off knee surgery and has missed most of the last two seasons with knee injuries. Barron could help with depth while also offsetting the free agent loss of slot corner Jourdan Lewis who is now a Jacksonville Jaguar. Barron won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nations top defensive back in 2024 when he had 67 tackles, 5 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and one sack in 16 starts. He followed that up with a defensive MVP performance with his season-high 11-tackle effort in the 2025 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which was a win over Arizona State in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals. A first team all-SEC selection in 2024, Barron was also named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Barron played in 56 games at Texas including 38 starts. His play was integral to a Texas team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals each of the last two seasons. Barron was also a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award in 2023 when he garnered All-Big 12 second team honors and was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl in what was the final year for Texas in the Big 12.

Barron has good speed with a 40-yard dash time of 4.39. While he is a bit undersized at 5-11 and 194-pounds to battle the more physical receivers, he makes up for it with quickness, a vertical jump of 35″, and a hand size of 9.5″. He has quick feet enabling him to use good technique and stay in effective position. A three-year starter for the Longhorns, Barron has good reaction skills while playing primarily at outside corner but also is capable of moving down in the slot and closer to the line of scrimmage when game situations call for it. He is quick in short areas to recognize receiver cuts but also is patient to maintain discipline on receivers double moves. Barron flashes great instincts and has excellent ball skills to close on defenders and turn would-be catches into drops. This ability separates him from other defensive backs and makes him highly effective in pass defense. In 2024, Barron had five interception while surrendering no touchdowns in coverage according to Pro Football Focus. Against the run, Barron works hard to evade blockers and is a fundamentally sound and physical tackler, important traits for any defensive back to have.

Tyler Booker – Guard, Alabama

The retirement of guard Zack Martin following the 2024 season leaves a huge hole for Dallas to fill on the offensive line. Martin was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a seven time first team All-Pro who is likely headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he first becomes eligible in another five years. One of the best run blockers to ever play, Martin had the ability to pile drive opponents into the ground and away from ball carriers. Although you don’t replace players like this, you still need to find ones that resemble them. While the Cowboys did sign guard Robert Jones in free agency from the Miami Dolphins, guard is still a position of need for competition and depth. Dallas is in transition with its’ line and protecting Prescott and opening holes for runners is its’ prime objective in order to become more productive on offense. The Cowboys averaged 4.0 yards per carry last year which ranked 30th in the league out of 32 teams. Jones is 6-4 and 322 pounds and brings four years of experience with him from the Dolphins to try to create running lanes for the newly acquired backs in Williams and Sanders.

At 6-5 and 325 pounds, Booker is a plug and play type of player. He was named a permanent team captain for the Cirmson Tide in 2024 when he received All-America first team honors by both CBS Sports and USA Today. Booker started all 13 games, 12 at left guard and one at left tackle, a season ago. He recorded a team-high 92 knockdown blocks while playing a team-high 778 snaps in 2024. Booker gave up only one-half sack on the season and graded out at 92.3 percent last season. He is best known for having pile driving power in the run game and smooth footwork in pass protection.
Booker plays with good technique by keeping his knees bent to maintain his leverage. His wide build combined with his powerful lower half and long 11-inch arms help him gain advantage over oncoming rushers. Booker shows excellent awareness to pick up line stunts and has the upper body power to throw opponents off balance and to the ground. A player of this caliber is what Dallas needs to help offset the massive defensive lineman they face twice a year in their own division. They include the defensive tackle duo of Jalen Carter (6-3, 314 lbs.) and Jordan Davis (6-6, 336) in Philadelphia and the likes of defensive tackles Daron Payne (6-3, 320) and Javon Kinlaw (6-5, 319) in Washington. Then there is the duo of Kayvon Thibodeaux (6-5, 258) and Dexter Lawrence (6-4, 340) of the New York Giants. Booker moves smoothly and explodes out of his stance to seal opponents out of plays, traits that would come in handy against these massive players in divisonal play. Booker has a knack for finishing blocks with a flourish and is always looking to drive opponents into the turf. He is a reliable pass protector and can move opponents in the run game.

Jihaad Campbell – Linebacker, Alabama

At 6-3 and 244 pounds, Campbell brings speed and athleticism at the linebacker position. After losing DeMarvion Overshown to a serious three ligament knee injury late last season, the Cowboys are in need of bolstering this position. Campbell would do this while providing insurance for the promising young Overshown if his absence lingers on into the upcoming season. Although Dallas did sign veterans Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jack Sanborn to reinforce the linebacker spots, Campbell would add youth and speed to this unit to upgrade their coverage in the middle of the field where Dallas has been gashed at times each of the last two seasons.

Campbell has elite closing speed to be able to chase down ball carriers sideline to sideline. He also offers versatility to play at his normal linebacker spot as well as down on the defensive line, on the edge, or in the slot area to defend the pass. Campbell can make plays with his long 32 1/2-inch arms and his 10 1/2-inch hands come in handy for knocking down passes which he has shown a knack for doing.
Campbell recorded 117 tackles in 2024 when he earned All-SEC first team recognition from the league’s coaches and second team accolades from the Associated Press. He also had 11.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks a season ago. Campbell has a nose for the football which factors into his all-around abilities as revealed through the other statistics he recorded last season such as one interception, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles, a pair of pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries. This aggressive nature led him to be named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award a season ago which recognizes the top defender in college football. Campbell was also named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award given annually to the country’s top linebacker after appearing on that award’s watch list to start the 2024 season.

Alfred Collins – Defensive Tackle, Texas

Collins would provide immediate help for a Dallas defensive line that needs to become bigger and stronger in the middle. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith, the Cowboys first round pick in 2023 out of Michigan, has disappointed so far. A gargantuan presence at 6-6 and 332 pounds, Collins would team with Osa Odighizuwa, one of the better defensive tackles in the league, to give Dallas more size and strength. Collins is quick-footed with the ability to use his power to collapses the pocket. He can bat down passes with his 10-inch hands and mucks things up in the trenches with his imposing size. He has a pro ready frame and uses bulldozer power to penetrate the line of scrimmage and close holes. Collins’ massive broad shoulder frame, powerhouse legs, and very long arms make him effective with swim moves and allows him to rip through blocks. He is used on line stunts where his quickness makes him effective in closing ground on the quarterback to force altered throws. He is also versatile, taking snaps at noseguard, over guard, and out at tackle. Collins plays with good leverage, can drop his weight, and also hold his own against double teams. He is a better run stopper than pass rusher with the later needing refinement.

Collins played in 63 games for the Longhorns with 26 starts over his five seasons in Austin. He lead all Texas defensive lineman with seven pass breakups in 2024 and had season-highs of seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, and one sack in a 20-10 win at Arkansas. He totaled 55 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, and one sack in 2024. Collins also recorded six-tackle efforts in back-to-back games against Georgia and Vanderbilt. He went on to play well in the College Football Playoffs where he combined for 12 tackles in the Longhorns’ three CFP games, six coming against Arizona State in the quarterfinals. Collins finished his career at Texas with 142 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, and 13 passes defended. He found success early in his football journey as he was an All-American, all-state, and three-time all-district honoree in high school while twice being named his district’s Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year. Collins also participated in the 2020 All-American Bowl which showcases the top high school players in the country. He is also a three-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll receivng those honors in the fall of 2020, spring of 2021, and spring of 2023.

Emeka Egbuka – Wide Receiver, Ohio State

Egbuka was steadily productive in his four-year career at Ohio State capping it all off in 2024 when he served as team captain and helped lead the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff National Championship. Tracked as playing out of the slot 73 percent of the time in college, he uses quick footwork to separate from defenders with sharp cuts. He is known for creating yards after the catch and can beat defenders one-on-one after squaring up with them in the open field. Egbuka is not a burner but he has good build up speed to get deep downfield on routes. At 6-1 and 205 pounds he is big enough yet still small enough to be effective at finding soft spots in zone defenses to provide a secondary target for Prescott. The Cowboys have not had a quality slot receiver since the days of Cole Beasley several years ago and Egbuka would restore this option in the Dallas offense quite nicely. Possessing high football intelligence, Egbuka is also a good blocker who works hard to seal off or chip opponents to help spring open ball carriers to the outside.

Egbuka led the Buckeyes in 2024 with 81 catches and became the school’s career leader in catches with 205. His 1,011 yards receiving and 10 touchdown catches a season ago were both second on the team. Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. are the only two wide receivers in Buckeye history to have two 1,000-yard receiving seasons. A model of consistency, Egbuka finished second all-time at Ohio State with 2,868 career receiving yards and seventh in touchdown catches with 24. Highly reliable, he played in 51 games as a Buckeye and ended his college career with a 40-game start streak in which he also caught at least one pass. Egbuka stood up to the ultra competitive landscape of the Big 10 where as a senior he ranked fifth in receptions, fourth in yards, and third in touchdown catches. As a senior, Egbuka was named to the All-Big Ten third team by the conference’s coaches while also garnering Academic All-Big Ten recognition for his work in the classroom. At the age of eight, Egbuka won his age group in Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit, and Run competition. He credits his background as a standout baseball outfielder in helping him to track balls as a receiver on the gridiron.

Ashton Jeanty – Running Back, Boise State

Jeanty is the most decorated running back in this year’s draft and received countless awards in 2024 such as the Doak Walker Award as the nations top running back and the Maxwell Award as the country’s best player. The Heisman Trophy runner-up, Jeanty was also honored as a unanimous All-America first team selection by the Associated Press, one of endless outlets that he received that recogntion from.
Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards in 2024, the second most in the history of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision behind only the 2,628 yards that Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders ran for back in 1988 at Oklahoma State. Jeanty also ran for 29 touchdowns in 2024 and scored 30 overall which both ranked first in the Moutain West Conference and second in the NCAA. His 2,739 scrimmage yards were first in the MWC and the NCAA a season ago.

In an era were the running back position has been devalued, Jeanty might be a major force in helping to re-ignite it. At 5-9 and 215 pounds, Jeanty runs low to the ground and uses his speed to accelerate past would be tacklers for big gains and long runs. Consistency also stands out in his game as Jeanty is the only player in FBS history to have 14 games of 100-plus yards rushing in a single season. Many compare him to Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Ladanian Tomlinson based on his similar size to Tomlinson. Tomlinson played at 5-10 and 215 pounds and ran with a low center of gravity, something that is always challenging for any opposing defender to deal with. Jeanty mirrors many of Tomlinson’s traits and sports a muscular barrel figured chest that allows him to absorb contact and maintain balance lending to his ability to break tackles, much like Tomlinson did.

In 2024, Jeanty had 63 runs of 10-plus yards and 1,970 rushing yards after contact which both led the FBS. His 1,970 yards rushing after contact a year ago were more than 700 yards ahead of second-place Omarion Hampton of North Carolina. Furthermore, according to Pro Football Focus’ database, Jeanty’s 151 missed tackles forced in 2024 (49 more than second place) are the most for a single season. Jeanty possesses loose and fluid hips that allow him to avoid unblocked defenders in the backfield and make lateral jump cuts to create space. Amidst all his quickness, Jeanty will also show patience to let his blocks set up and then, at a split second notice, accelerate through running lanes with his rare and electric burst of speed. While some will question the level of competition he faced playing in the MWC, he was a force against Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington State. Jeanty totaled 677 yards rushing on 88 carries with 8 touchdowns combined over those three games, two of which the Broncos won. Jeanty’s brillliant 2024 season also saw him receive All-America first team honors by the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association of America, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, Walter Camp, Phil Steele, and The Sporting News.

Jeanty was named Offensive MVP of the MW Championship win over UNLV last season after running for 209 yards on 32 carries and scoring on a 75-yard touchdown run. During that game, Jeanty become the school’s career leader in rushing yards with 4,769 and single-season rushing touchdowns with 29. Jeanty followed that up with a top level performance against No. 6 Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl of the College Football Playoffs. There, Jeanty finished with 137 all-purpose yards and also had 19 missed tackles forced against a defense that featured edge rusher Abdul Carter, an elite prospect in this year’s draft class. In addition to setting the school’s career rushing yards and single season rushing touchdowns records, Jeanty concluded his time at Boise State as the program’s career record-holder in yards per carry (6.36), yards per game (119.2), 200-yard rushing games (8), 100-yard rushing games (22), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (14), and 200-yard all-purpose games (11). Jeanty is a legitimate can’t miss prospect and will likely be a top-10 selection to a team needing offensive firepower. The two-time All-MWC first team selection and two-time MWC Offensive-Player-of-the-Year is a day one starter and an elite playmaker.

Armand Membou – Tackle, Missouri

Membou is near the top of the offensive tackle board in this year’s draft. He is 6-3 and 325 pounds with a hand size of 9 3/4″ and an arm length of 33 1/2″. Some mock drafts have the Cowboys drafting him with the 12th overall pick in round one. He would be insurance for Tyler Guyton, the offensive tackle Dallas took last year with its’ first-round pick at No. 29 overall and had a shaky first season. Membou possesses a thick barrel-chested frame with long arms and a strong and sturdy lower half. A three-year starter for the Tigers, Membou’s natural position is right tackle but he could potentially play left tackle in the pros. Membou is described as having vice-grip strength which was a common way to describe Cowboys’ legend Tyron Smith – the former Dallas offensive tackle who just signed a one-day contract on April 16, 2025 in Frisco, TX to officially retire as a Cowboy where he spent 13 of his 14 seasons and was an eight-time Pro Bowler. Strong and aggressive, Membou plays with a finishers mentality consistently driving opponents down the field and into the turf. He has good footwork to go along with good knee bend and balance to be able to seal the edge enabling runners to turn up field. He times his arms well to stun the opponent with contact before latching on to control the rusher and drive them off the line and out of running lanes. At times, he can struggle to match the speed off the edge.

Membou stared 25 of 26 games over the last two years at Missouri where he totaled 35 games played with 29 starts over his three total years at the school. He was recognized as an All-Southeastern Conference second team selection in 2024 and was part of an offensive line that led the SEC and ranked seventh nationally in time of possession at 32:54. Membou also blocked for an offense that finished 10th nationally and second in the SEC in red zone offense, converting 46-of-50 opportunities (.920). He also helped the Tigers rank fifth nationally and second in the SEC in interceptions allowed, by giving up only five on the season. Membou had a Pro Football Focus grade of 90.4 in 2024 which ranked third nationally among Power 4 offensive tackles. Membou started all 13 games at right tackle in 2023 when the Tiger’s offensive line was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Joe Moore Award that recognizes the most outstanding offensive line unit in the nation. Membou also lettered all three seasons he played at Missouri.

Tetairoa McMillan – Wide Receiver, Arizona

McMillan is a top flght prospect at wide receiver and would help Dallas offset the loss of Brandin Cooks who signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency. McMillan is a big target at 6-4 and 219 pounds and could give Dak Prescott a complimentary target thereby helping to free up number one receiver CeeDee Lamb for more one-on-one opportunities. A three-year starter for the Wildcatss, McMillan totaled 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024 when he was named to the All-Big 12 first team and was a Finalist for the Biletnikoff Award which goes to the nation’s tops receiver. He has a tall and athletic muscular build along with excellent body control. McMillan has an arm length of 31 1/2″ and a hand size of 10″ which allows him to create a massive catch radius. He shows tremendous concentration to be able to reach for the football and secure catches away from his frame. McMillan’s quick feet and strong hands enable him to evade press coverage and get into his routes. He is a loose and flexible athlete who can create good separation from defenders based on his good stop-start acceleration.

Aggressive over the middle, McMillan will absorb hits while going up in traffic to make tough contested catches. While he lacks elite speed to be able to take NFL corners deep, he has good buildup speed.

McMillan’s 1,319 receiving yards and 109.9 yards per game were each third most in the country in 2024 when he also tied for eighth nationally with eight touchdown receptions. McMillan also became Arizona’s career leader with 3,423 receiving yards as a junior in 2024 and finished third in program history with 26 career touchdown catches. In last seasons opener against New Mexico, McMillan had himself a day making 10 catches for a single-game program record 304 yards and four touchdowns, Those four touchdowns tied a program record and are the third-most in a single game in Big-12 history dating back to 1996. Steady at producing big plays, McMillan also was tied for seventh nationally in most receiving plays of 20-plus yards with 20, a mark that was second in the Big 12. McMillan emerged in the 2023 season when he started all 13 games and led the team with 1,402 receiving yards and was second on the team with 10 touchdown grabs.

Walter Nolen – Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss

Nolen is 6-3 and 305 pounds and has an explosive first step to his pass rush. Nolen appears to be better suited for stopping the run and his 2024 season for the Rebels showed it. He played in all 13 games for Ole Miss in 2024 and helped anchor the best rush defense in the nation and one of the top ones in school history. The Rebels established school records with 52 sacks and 120 tackles for a loss in 2024 with Noel playing a big part in both. He was fourth on the team with 6.5 sacks representing 36 lost yards and tied for the team lead with 14 tackles for a loss that totaled 50 yards. Nolen added four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries on the season while also recording three games of multiple tackles for a loss.

Nolen became just the 14th player in school history to be named a consensus All-American in 2024. He also garnered All-America first team selections by the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, USA Today, ESPN, The Athletic, and Phil Steele in 2024. Invited to the NFL Combine in 2025, Nolen was also named to the 2024 All-SEC first team.

Jack Sawyer – Edge Rusher/LB, Ohio State

Sawyer could be a sleeper pick in the first round or even later but then again it might not be a surprise due to his innate abilty to play his best in the biggest of moments. No play made by Sawyer in his storied football career was bigger or more impactful than his strip sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and touchdown in the waning minutes of the 2024 CFP semifinal win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl at AT & T Stadium in Arlington, TX back in January. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers had driven the Longhorns to a first and goal at the Ohio State 2-yard line inside of four minutes to play and had Texas threatening to tie the score at 21. However the Buckeyes’ defense stifled the Longhorns as the next three plays produced minus six yards and left Texas with fourth down with 2:24 to play. Sawyer’s ensuing rush off the edge resulted in a scoop and score via an 83-yard touchdown return that clinched the victory sending Ohio State to Atlanta. There, the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame to win the national championship 10 days later on January 20. Sawyer was already a stalwart player in Ohio State history before this gargantuan play. However that play cemented his place in Ohio Satet history as a Buckeye legend forever. He made hero status in Columbus for this clutchest of plays.

Sawyer was a four-year Varisty O letterwinner who played in all 55 games the past four seasons and started 29 consecutive games between 2023 and 2024. Sawyer had a terrific career playing for the hometown Buckeyes and capped it all off in 2024 by being named team captain as a senior. In Ohio State’s four CFP wins, Sawyer totaled 13 tackles, 4.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries. This was a microcsm of his senior season stats that included 59 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, eight quarterback hurries, and seven pass breakups. Sawyer, who is 6-5 and 260-pounds, earned All-Big Ten second team honors by the coaches in 2024 when he had 59 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, and 9 sacks.

Sawyer is a hard charging power rusher who uses his well built muscular frame to disrupt opposing offenses from their normal rhythm. A two-year starter for the Buckeyes, Sawyer plays with a non-stop motor and is a tenacious defender on the edge. He commonly uses swipes, clubs, chops, and spin moves to deflect opposing hands and free himself from blocks. A heady player, he shows good anticipation for where a play is going. Sawyer likes to get his hands up to deflect and knock down passes.
Sawyer had an exceptional career at Ohio State, finishing with career totals of 144 tackles, 28.5 tackles-for-a-loss totaling 162 yards, 23 quarterback sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 15 quarterback hurries, 11 pass break-ups, and a fourth quarter interception in the red zone against Michigan. His 23 quarterback sacks rank eighth in Ohio State history and his 152 yards lost via sacks is ninth in school history. His natural tendency is to set the edge to force runners back inside. Sawyer’s value lies in his physicality as he lacks explosiveness and speed to beat defenders one-on-one. At 6-4 and 260-pounds, Sawyer brings old school toughness built alongside present day desire and instincts that are impacful.

Grey Zabel – Center/Guard, North Dakota State

Zabel offers much versatility as he has played all five offensive line positions during his collegiate career. There in lies his value and any NFL team would be wise to covet this in their evaluations of the 6-6 305-pound lineman. In his five seasons at North Dakota State, Zabel helped the Bison win two NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision National Championships and two Missouri Valley Football Conference Championships, one of each coming in the 2021 and 2024 seasons. Zabel appeared in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl where he impressed NFL scouts with his play at center. In doing so, he joined other small-school players who have been standouts in the Senior Bowl such as Terron Armstead of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alie Marpet of Hobart and William Smith, Cody Mauch and Dillon Radunz each of North Dakota State, and Quinn Meinerz of UW-Whitewater.

Zabel is smooth and plays with a balanced base. He has an arm length of 32″ which he uses to contact the chests of opposing lineman in rhythm with the play. His 9 1/2-inch hands provide him with vice-grip strength and allow him to control the play through the rep. Zabel also sports a fluid upper half of his body that allows him to twist and bend without losing his anchor stance when engaging with opposing rushers. He showed this in 2024 when, according to Pro Football Focus, he gave up only one sack and just seven quarterback pressures in 453 pass blocking snaps. Equally effective in the run game, Zabel can quickly reach and seal the backside or seamlessly move from taregt to target on combo blocks. He also never gives up on a play showing an ability to wash opponents out of the play on down blocks with his standout strength. While he can struggle at times in handling speed rushers off the edge, he counters by slowing his feet and resorts to leaning into the opponent to slow them down.

Zabel started the last 36 consecutive games of his career at NDSU and totaled 41 starts over his five seasons there. He was an Associated Press FCS All-America first team selection at left tackle as a senior in 2024 when the Bison went 14-2 overall and 7-1 in the MVFC. Zabel’s reliability is shown in the fact that he started every game each of the last two seasons, a total of 31, and played in all 15 games during his junior season of 2022.

Zabel also received FCS All-America first team honors from various organizations in 2024 including the American Football Coaches Association, Stats Perform, and Phil Steele. Zabel’s play in 2024 can also be directly connected to NDSU leading the FCS in first downs with 361 as well as team passing efficiency at 178.6 while also ranking second in completion percentage at .718 and third in both third-down conversion percentage at .545 and scoring offense at 38.1 points-per-game. His versatility will likely make some team very happy they selected him come draft day.

The Later Rounds

While the aforementioned dozen players are all prime first-round prospects that can potentially help the Cowboys, other prospects still need to be monitored as the draft progresses. While the first round is where Dallas hopes to make its’ biggest splash, there is still much to get right in the other rounds to make the event a major and well-rounded success. Here is where the draft reveals quality, depth, and can produce sleepers who were overlooked.

Should Dallas still be looking for help at running back in the later rounds, keep on eye on Kyle Monangai of Rutgers and LeQuint Allen of Syracuse. Both are flying under the radar and had tremendous seasons for their respective schools in 2024. At just 5-9 and 209-pounds, Monangai runs with exceptional power. He carried the ball 256 times for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2024 when he earned All-Big Ten first team honors for the second straight season. Monangai rushed for 3,221 yards on 669 carries with 27 touchdowns in his college career. He ranks second in program history in rushing yards as one of only three Scarlet Knights to reach 3,000 yards. Allen had a productive career for the Orange. He is one of just six players in program history at Syracuse to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. This coming at a school that has produced fabled runners like Jim Brown, Floyd Little, and Ernie Davis. Allen scored 32 total touchdowns in his career for the Orange which ranks fifth all-time in program history. The two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference running back led Syracuse with 1,021 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground a season ago.

Other running backs that could be available in the second or third round are Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Arizona State’s Cam Skatebo, Ohio State’s Treveyon Henderson, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, and Central Florida’s RJ Harvey. Each offer something a little different. Johnson has good size at 6-0 and 225 pounds and was named the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running-Back-of-the-Year in 2024 after rushing for 1,537 yards which led the Big Ten and was seventh nationally. Skattebo sports a rugged frame at 5-11 and 215-pounds which lends to his physical running nature. In leading the Sun Devils to last season’s College Football Playoffs, Skattebo finished with 1,711 yards rushing with 21 touchdowns. Henderson brings pop and sizzle with his speed like he did with a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown off a screen pass against Texas in the Cotton Bowl of the CFP’s back in January. Henderson finished his career at Ohio State with 3,761 yards rushing, fifth in program history behind all-time Buckeye greats Archie Griffin, JK Dobbins, Ezekiel Elliott, and Eddie George. Hampton is a bigger back at 6-0 and 220 pounds who declared for the draft after his junior season when he recorded 10 100-yard rushing games en-route to season totals of 1,660 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 281 carries. He added another 38 catches for 373 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Harvey is a big-play back with tackle-breaking moves. He checks in at only 208 pounds but has that low center of gravity and packs power in his 5-9 frame. Harvey ran for 1,577 yards on just 232 carries for a walloping 6.8 yards-per-carry and scored 22 touchdowns in 2024 when he was recognized as an All-Big 12 first team performer and an Associated Press third team All-American.

As the draft reaches the fourth and later rounds, teams are looking for depth and players that can be complimentary pieces. Like any team, the Cowboys can always use depth to deal with injuries and other player losses. Dallas could also use help in the secondary and it is not out of the question to think of a future quarterback to develop behind Prescott. The Cowboys lost both of their backup quarterbacks from a year ago as the reliable Cooper Rush signed with the Baltimore Ravens and the young and unproven Trey Lance is now with the Los Angeles Chargers. Dallas did acquire Joe Milton III to backup Prescott in a trade with the New England Patriots earlier this offseason. Kyle McCord of the Orange could be an option as the draft goes into the later rounds. The 6-3 220-pound McCord played his first three seasons at Ohio State before transferring to Syracuse for the 2024 season. McCord set the ACC’s single-season passing record with 4,779 yards a season ago. McCord was 391-for-592 for 4,779 yards and 34 touchdowns for the Orange in 2024 which set all new program records at Syracuse.

Positions like linebacker, safety, and special teams in addition to any backup roles can always be addressed in the later and final rounds of the draft. Due to injuries in recent years, the Cowboys have been thin at linebacker and adding even another defensive lineman would help. Keep an eye on Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron. Both played for the Orange at Syracuse and were key veteran pieces in a big turnaround season that the Orange enjoyed under first-year head coach Fran Brown in 2024. At 6-1 and 236 pounds Wax is an athletic linebacker who is always around the ball and eager to make a play. Wax is a very instinctive player. Despite missing five games due to injury in 2024 he was still very active amassing 44 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks to go along with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception on the season. Those numbers still led Wax to be named Honorable Mention All-ACC. Wax is the type of player that can cover all over the field and has value on special teams as well. Barron, who actually moved from his normal postion of defensive back to fill in for the injured Wax at linebacker in 2024, was a two-time team captain for the Orange. Barron was a two-time All-ACC selection at Syracuse where he had career totals of 294 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, 14 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in his career. Jack Kiser, a linebacker out of Notre Dame, is another player for Dallas to be aware of in the middle and later rounds. Like Wax and Barron, Kiser is experienced and has adequate athleticism to deflect balls or secure interceptions off of tipped balls. Kiser projects well at either inside or outside linebacker and has good instincts and versatility to be a solid reserve player or contribute on special teams.

Should none of these prospects make sense for the Cowboys, there are plenty of other prospects still lingering as the draft winds itself through the final rounds. Whoever Dallas ends up drafting, those players will be the next ones in line to try and help the franchise restore its’ glory.