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What would you say is the biggest need on the Cowboys entering the draft?
After about a month of free agency, the
Dallas Cowboys are now focusing on the 2025
NFL Draft. The crowning jewel of every offseason, the draft will shape the remainder of whatever other signings or trades the team might make between now and September. Before this flurry of player acquisition, let’s take a look at the Cowboys’ updated roster needs.
Dallas hasn’t been sitting on its hands. The Cowboys signed eight new free agents, re-signed eight others from last year, and traded for three players. That outweighs the team’s fourteen departures thus far: eight players who have already signed with new teams, five who remain free agents, and one retired legend named Zack Martin.
Still, Dallas has some big needs going into this draft. Their offseason moves didn’t fully address certain departures like WR Brandin Cooks or CB Jourdan Lewis, nor have they sufficiently covered losses like RB Rico Dowdle or the lingering injury concerns at cornerback with Trevon Diggs and Josh Butler.
So, from least to greatest, how do we rank the Cowboys’ needs with about a week to go until the draft?
12. Special Teams
The Cowboys have often looked outside the draft to deal with special teams openings, but there have been some exceptions through the years. 2025 won’t be one of them as Dallas boasts the league’s best return man and arguably its best kicker, plus two proficient veterans at punter and long snapper. They have already done their work by re-signing all of KaVontae Turpin, Bryan Anger, and Trent Sieg, and they will enjoy one more year of Brandon Aubrey at a huge discount. While special teams work may drive some late-round and UDFA decisions, the key positions are nicely covered.
11. Safety
After re-signing prospects Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell, plus retaining Donovan Wilson despite some cap casualty speculation, Dallas seems set at safety. They have their core four with these three and Malik Hooker, plus a versatile depth option in Israel Mukuamu. That’s not to say they shouldn’t think twice if they have a chance at an elite draft prospect like Malaki Starks or Nick Emmanwori; upgrades are certainly worth considering. But in terms of need, the position is already stocked with two veteran starters and perhaps two future ones.
10. Quarterback
The Cowboys already picked up their next developmental project when they swapped late-round picks with the Patriots for Joe Milton. He’s essentially their draft pick for this cycle and, paired with Will Grier, gives Dallas its likely depth behind Dak Prescott for 2025. If the Cowboys do add more QB talent, it will likely be a post-draft signing of another veteran to challenge Grier.
9. Tight End
Between the hope for a Jake Ferguson bounce-back and the potential third-year leap for Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas could understandably stand pat. They even have some solid depth with Brevyn Spann-Ford, Princeton Fant, and the new “if he can stay healthy” prospect John Stephens.
Granted, this isn’t enough to stop speculation that Dallas might consider Penn State’s Tyler Warren at the 12th pick. He’d walk in as TE1, perhaps allowing them to move Ferguson in a trade before his contract expires. Like at safety, this is a spot where a “best player available” scenario can’t be ignored by also isn’t nearly as important to address as others.
8. Guard/Center
Martin’s retirement isn’t as big of a loss in realty as it sounds on paper. Injuries and mileage had diminished his skills, allowing Brock Hoffman to step in last year at right guard without a significant performance dropoff. A starting trio of Hoffman, Tyler Smith, and Cooper Beebe at the interior offensive line isn’t bad, and Dallas also has good depth and competition with T.J. Bass and free-agent pickup Robert Jones.
If they did get a chance at one of the top center or guard prospects, though, it’s certainly worth considering. Beebe can play either spot, and making Hoffman a valuable depth piece instead of a starter only makes you that much stronger. Hoffman is also a free agent after this year, so Dallas might see it as a chance to lock in with a new multi-year starter on the cheap.
7. Linebacker
Without the DeMarvion Overshown injury concerns, this might have been at the bottom of the list. But thanks to the additions of Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray, at least Overshown’s potential absence doesn’t drive this near the top. You still have Marist Liufau coming off a promising rookie year and Damone Clark as an experienced fourth-year prospect. If the team feels that Overshown and Liufau are their big two going forward, they’ll be judicious about using premium picks here. They can certainly look at mid- to late-round guys for depth and competition.
6. Defensive End
Losing DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston in the same offseason hurts, but two of Dallas’s last three second-round picks have been EDGE players Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams. This is their time to shine, and free-agent additions Dante Fowler and Payton Turner will help fill out the rotation. But with Williams coming off an ACL injury and Turner having been a bust in New Orleans, Dallas could justifiably strengthen the group with a high-ranking rookie.
5. Offensive Tackle
With Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele as returning starters, plus Asim Richards as an adequate swing tackle, the key spots are at least covered. But there are concerns with all three of them. Steele could be a cap casualty if he doesn’t have a strong season, Guyton needs to show considerable growth from a rough rookie year, and Richards is only passable at tackle.
Drafting a new OT prospect makes sense on multiple levels. A high pick could come in and immediately challenge Guyton and Steele or at least be an upgrade for swing duty. That would allow Richards to compete at guard, where he’s better suited. The new guy would also be a potential replacement for one of the starters in 2026 if needed. With clear present and future value, it’s a worthy use of a premium pick.
4. Defensive Tackle
This would’ve been your number-one need if Dallas hadn’t re-signed Osa Odighizuwa, but even that didn’t take it out of the top five. Veteran free agent Solomon Thomas helps with depth but he, Odighizuwa, and Mazi Smith are your only consequential DTs going into the draft.
The Cowboys’ faith in Smith’s development is crucial here. If they still believe in him, they might let this go for a few rounds and use Day 3 to find a true nose tackle and some more depth. But if Smith is starting to smell like a bust, Dallas might go DT early for an immediate rotation piece and a future starter. In a class loaded with talent at the position, they could land a player in the third round with that kind of potential.
3. Cornerback
Losing Jourdan Lewis was bad enough but there’s also
talk that Trevon Diggs will start the year on the PUP list. Josh Butler will also need time to recover from a late-season injury, which means cornerback could be looking pretty thin in the early part of the season. We don’t even know what to expect from Caelen Carson, who missed a lot of time last year with his own injury. Even if DaRon Bland is all the way back to All-Pro form, he can’t do it alone.
Not only is there an immediate need for help here, but Dallas is nearing big decisions on the futures of its top two corners. If Diggs can’t get right again medically, 2026 offers a good escape point from his contract. At the same time, Bland is about to become an unrestricted free agent. If they end up parting with one, it’d be a great time to have a second-year stud ready for a starting role.
Given this, CB is a real possibility at any point. Will Johnson if he falls to the 12th pick, Jahdae Barron as another first-round option, Shavon Revel, Azareye’h Thomas, and others in the second round, and more as you go down the line; Dallas will be considering them at all stops. There’s no denying the need, and thankfully there’s enough talent in this class to satisfy it.
2. Wide Receiver
Losing Brandin Cooks isn’t really the issue. The problem goes back to 2022 and the decision to part with Amari Cooper and keep Michael Gallup. That was the point when Dallas stopped having a true WR2. And even if you’re the biggest Jalen Tolbert fan who ever was or will be, you can’t deny that the Cowboys need someone to at least challenge him for that starting job. Most of us want someone with the pedigree and perceived potential to claim it immediately.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a WR-rich draft. Even top prospects like Tet McMillan, Matthew Golden, and Emeka Egbuka aren’t generally seen as future franchise receivers. That’s okay for a team like Dallas, who already has one in CeeDee Lamb, but it does mean that the pool of potential starters dries up quickly once you get out of the first round. Once you start looking at Tre Harris, Jayden Higgins, or Jack Bech, you may end up starting Tolbert after all.
Given the need and concerns for talent in later rounds, McMillan and Golden are the safest bets to be Dallas’ pick at #12. If they’re both gone by then, the Cowboys might go with another position or trade down to target Egbuka or Luther Burden. But as it stands, wide receiver will likely be the biggest driver for Dallas’ overall strategy and decision-making on Thursday night.
1. Running Back
This is such a fun year to need a RB given the wealth of talent and the increasing debate over draft philosophy and positional value among analysts. Even if top prospect Ashton Jeanty falls to 12, you will have many who decry the idea of spending such a high pick on any running back. There will be an even greater backlash if Jeanty’s gone and Dallas’ goes with Omarion Hampton, which many would see as a reach.
There’s no getting around the Cowboys’ need for a new starting back. While Rico Dowdle did commendable work last year, it’s been a long time since the days of peak Zeke and an explosive run game. Offseason signing Javonte Williams is an interesting reclamation project, but he seems like a backup at best. Veteran Miles Sanders feels more like a camp body than a viable player at this point.
Given the well-advertised depth of this 2025 RB class, Dallas can find a new starter after Thursday night. While prospects like Jeanty, Hampton, and TreVeyon Henderson are considered the more explosive talents, others like Quinshon Judkins, Cameron Skattebo, and Damien Martinez could come in and put up strong numbers in a well-functioning offense. At the very least, finding a guy to duplicate Dowdle’s production won’t be difficult.
So yes, running back is the biggest need based on Dallas’ current options. But given the depth of the talent pool compared to CB or WR and the decreasing valuation of the RB position in general, it’s less likely to be where the Cowboys spend their first-round pick.
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