Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Predicting all 32 NFL teams first-round draft picks.
With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up, mock drafts cannot be predicted with little bit more accuracy knowing which prospects teams could be targeting. Between now and the draft in April player rankings may fluctuate a little, but overall teams big board's are pretty close to being set.
With that information and the current roster "needs" for all 32 NFL teams, we decided we would try to attempt to predict how each pick plays out in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Since trades are unpredictable, we excluded them from this mock draft.
1. Tennessee Titans - EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
Tennessee is rumored to be willing to trade away the first overall pick likely to a QB "needy" team. If they make a selection here Abdul Carter makes sense. He has the talent to become one of the best pass rusher's in the league.
2. Cleveland Browns - QB Cam Ward, Miami
Cam Ward fills a glaring hole at QB in Cleveland after the whole Deshaun Watson trade failure, which continues to negatively impact the organization.
3. New York Giants - CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
The Giants are a candidate to trade up for the first overall pick to select their QB of the future, but if they stay put Travis Hunter could be the pick. He immediately upgrades both offense and defense as a rookie.
4. New England Patriots - OT/G Armand Membou, Missouri
New England decides to bypass adding another weapon for their second-year QB in favor of protecting him by selecting Armand Membou. The 20-year-old is a plug-and-play starter with Pro Bowl potential as a rookie.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - OT/G Will Campbell, LSU
Although Will Campbell has proven he can remain at tackle in the NFL, his best fit may be inside at guard. He could step in and replace Brandon Scherff in Jacksonville, who is currently pending free agent.
6. Las Vegas Raiders - WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
The Raiders give their newly acquired QB Geno Smith another receiving weapon and a player with WR1 potential as a rookie in Tetairoa McMillan to pair with Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers.
7. New York Jets - DT Mason Graham, Michigan
Mason Graham's play style and attitude fit what Aaron Glenn looks for in his defensive players and can be the building block in which this defense is built around for years to come.
8. Carolina Panthers - EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
After blowing up the combine, the Panthers decide to gamble a bit by betting on Shemar Stewart's elite athleticism by making him a Top 10 selection, despite his 1.5 sacks in each of his last three seasons.
9. New Orleans Saints - TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
Regardless of who ends up playing quarterback in New Orleans, the Saints need to add more firepower to their offense under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. Tyler Warren is a do-it-all weapon that does just that.
10. Chicago Bears - RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
After making recent trades to upgrade their offensive line, the Bears have set themselves up to further help their second-year QB by adding some serious juice to the backfield in the Aston Jeanty.
11. San Francisco 49ers - OT/G Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Trent Williams isn't getting any younger and Aaron Banks is a pending free agent, making Kelvin Banks' OT/G versatility an intriguing option to replace either depending where the 49ers like him best.
12. Dallas Cowboys - EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25902511/1888258278.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 30 Capital One Orange Bowl - Georgia vs Florida State")
The Cowboys stick to their big board here and choose EDGE Mykel Williams instead of reaching for WR Matthew Golden to upgrade and add depth at defensive end. Adding Williams with Micah Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, and Sam Williams would give the Cowboys really good depth at DE, creating the potential to have one of the better pass rushing units in league.
With QB Sheduer Sanders still on the board trading down with QB needy teams like the Seahawks or Steelers could be in play here as well. Staying pat here with Mykel Williams though the Cowboys get a player who can challenge Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams from Day 1 to start opposite Micah Parsons as DeMarcus Lawrence's replacement. He could be a plug-and-play starter with Pro Bowl potential down the road.
13. Miami Dolphins - S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
With both Javon Holland and Jordan Poyer as pending free agents, the Dolphins are in need of more safety help and decide to draft Nick Emmanwori to upgrade the back end of their secondary.
14. Indianapolis Colts - G Tyler Booker, Alabama
Tyler Booker would be a plug-and-play replacement for RG Will Fries, a pending free agent, and give Indianapolis a nasty guard duo (Quenton Nelson) for RB Jonathan Taylor to run behind.
15. Atlanta Falcons - EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
The Falcons need pass rush help and while Mike Green raised some concerns after not participating at the combine, he is still worthy of the Top 15 pick after dominating the Senior Bowl.
16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Will Johnson, Michigan
The Cardinals have a lot of roster needs and could go several different directions here, but being able to snag the top-ranked CB this year to upgrade their secondary would be too good to pass up.
17. Cincinnati Bengals - EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
After Sam Hubbard decided to retire and with Trey Hendrickson requesting a trade, the Bengals find themselves in need of more pass rushing help. Donovan Ezeiruaku helps fill the void immediately.
18. Seattle Seahawks - QB Sheduer Sanders, Colorado
Although they still need to upgrade their OL and receiving core, Seattle finds a replacement for Geno Smith here in Sheduer Sanders. The rest of the draft should be devoted to building around him.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Lavonte David was recently re-signed to a one-year, $10 million deal, but at 34 years old the Buccaneers would be wise to go ahead and draft his successor and Jihaad Campbell fits the bill.
20. Denver Broncos - TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
Sean Payton is rumored to be looking for a "joker" offensive weapon and Colston Loveland fits the bill. He has a similar skill set to Raiders TE Brock Bowers and could have similar success in Denver as a rookie.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - WR Matthew Golden, Texas
Although their QB situation remains unsettled right now, Pittsburgh needs another target in the passing game to pair with George Pickens. Matthew Golden is a QB-friendly WR would be a good complement for Pickens.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka isn't flashy, but he's the most pro-ready WR in the draft class. Add him to Ladd McConkey and QB Justin Herbert has two versatile QB-friendly receivers to upgrade the Chargers aerial attack.
23. Green Bay Packers - CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
Rumors are the Packers are going to part ways with Jaire Alexander, making cornerback a need. Jahdae Barron is a versatile defensive back who can step in immediately replace him as a rookie.
24. Minnesota Vikings - OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
With J.J. McCarthy coming off a season-ending injury and taking over as the starter, Minnesota needs to upgrade their OL. Grey Zabel can play just about any position giving them options where to play him.
25. Houston Texans - OT/G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
Donovan Jackson reunites with fellow Ohio State alum QB C.J. Stroud in Houston and immediately upgrades their offensive line. He's a plug-and-play guard with Pro Bowl potential as a rookie.
26. Los Angeles Rams - WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
Replacing Cooper Kupp with Luther Burden could be a dream come true for the Rams. He would pair nicely with Puka Nacua and give Matthew Stafford a yards after catch demon to target in the passing game.
27. Baltimore Ravens - S Malaki Starks, Georgia
The Ravens are known to let things play out and then draft the best player available, hence the Malaki Starks prediction here. Pairing him on the back end of the defense with Kyle Hamilton would be scary.
28. Detroit Lions - DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Drafting Kevin Zeitler's replacement could be in play here, but with Kenneth Grant still available he would be too hard to pass up. He would provide a big, physical presence in the middle of their defensive line.
29. Washington Commanders - OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
Protecting Jayden Daniels should be priority No. 1 for Washington and getting Josh Simmons at this point in the first-round would be a steal. If not for his knee injury, he'd be long gone by now.
30. Buffalo Bills - DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Buffalo needs to get bigger and stronger along their defensive line and Derrick Harmon would help tremendously in that area. He's equally effective as a run defender as he is as a pass rusher.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Josh Conley Jr., Oregon
Kansas City's inability to protect Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl puts upgrading the offensive line at the top of their list. Josh Conley should further help upgrade their OL after franchise tagging Trey Smith.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Walter Nolen still being on the board at this point in the first-round would be a dream come true for the Eagles. He can step in as a rookie and replace Milton Williams, who is a pending free agent.
Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
Here is our scouting report on Alfred Collins from Texas
We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive tackle Alfred Collins from Texas.
Alfred Collins
DT
Texas Longhorns
Senior
5-star recruit
6’5”
322 lbs
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25899089/2182229627.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 26 Texas at Vanderbilt")
History
Alfred Collins was born on October 8, 2001, in Bastrop, Texas, and grew up in the nearby town of Cedar Creek, where he attended Cedar Creek High School. He comes from an athletic family—his mother, Benita Pollard, was a standout basketball player at the University of Texas from 1990 to 1994, which likely influenced his decision to follow in her footsteps and attend the same university.
During his high school career, Collins excelled as a three-sport athlete, participating in football, basketball, and track and field (shot put and discus). On the football field, he was a dominant force, amassing 253 total tackles (180 solo and 73 assisted), 74 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks over his career. His senior year alone saw him record 86 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, earning him District Defensive Lineman of the Year honors and a spot in the 2020 All-American Bowl. Rated as a five-star recruit, Collins was highly sought after, ultimately choosing the University of Texas over offers from powerhouse programs like Alabama, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.
At Texas, Collins joined the Longhorns in 2020 as a true freshman during the COVID-19-shortened season, playing in all 10 games and starting one. He recorded 22 tackles and showed early promise as a rotational player on a veteran-laden defensive line, contributing to a 7-3 Longhorns team that finished with an Alamo Bowl win.
In his second season, Collins appeared in all 12 games, starting three, as he began carving out a bigger role. He tallied 25 tackles (15 solo), five tackles for loss, and two sacks. The Longhorns struggled to a 5-7 record, but Collins emerged as a reliable depth piece.
Collins played in all games in 2022, starting one, and continued to develop his physical presence. He posted 17 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack, contributing to an 8-5 season.
In his senior year, Collins appeared in all 14 games with seven starts. He recorded 22 tackles (14 solo), two tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups, refining his skills as a run-stopper. The Longhorns went 12-2, winning the Big 12 title and reaching the CFP quarterfinals, with Collins playing a steady supporting role alongside stars like T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II.
Granted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID, Collins seized a starring role, starting 16 games. He notched 55 tackles (27 solo), six tackles for loss, one sack, seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble, earning First-Team All-SEC and Second-Team All-American honors. His efforts helped Texas go 11-2, and reach the CFP again.
2024 Statistics
593 Defensive Snaps
55 Total Tackles
6 Tackles For Loss
18 Total Pressures
1 Sack
7 Pass Breakups
1 Forced Fumble
1 Penalty
NFL Combine/Pro Day
Vert- 26” (14%)
Broad- 96” (6%)
Awards
All-America (2024)
First-team All-SEC (2024)
Scorecard
Overall- 80.0
Speed- 78
Acceleration- 88
Agility- 79
Strength- 93
Tackling- 89
Pass Rush- 80
Run Defense- 86
Discipline- 98
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25899097/C6FC9967_03B4_495C_9F2B_0F87593FB726.jpeg)
THE GOOD
- Collins is one of the premier run-stoppers in the 2025 draft class.
- He anchors with a wide base and powerful lower half, rarely getting displaced by single blockers.
- His ability to stack, shed, and control gaps makes him a two-gap terror, often resetting the line of scrimmage with violent hand strikes.
- Displays elite grip strength and upper-body power to dissect blocks. His lock-peek-shed technique stands out, he reads blocking schemes quickly, engages with a two-hand strike, and discards linemen.
- Patient and disciplined, rarely caught out of position. Excels at absorbing double teams and maintaining gap integrity, freeing up teammates.
- Played multiple alignments (0-tech, 1-tech, 3-tech, 4i, 5-tech) in Texas’ hybrid fronts, showing adaptability for both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes.
- Appeared in 64 games over five years, with no major injury history beyond a few minor injuries.
TAPE TIME
DT Alfred Collins
Texas
THE GOOD
— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 5, 2025THE BAD
- Lacks dynamic burst or twitch to consistently threaten as a pass rusher.
- Relies heavily on a bull rush or long-arm move, but lacks a refined plan or counter moves when stalled.
- While agile for his size, Collins doesn’t have the horizontal explosiveness to chase plays outside his frame or recover if his initial move fails.
- His top-end speed is average, limiting his range.
- Occasionally plays too high, allowing technically sound linemen to get into his chest and neutralize his power.
- Needs to refine leverage to maximize his length.
- As a fifth-year senior he’ll be 23 entering the NFL, older than some peers in the class.
TAPE TIME
DT Alfred Collins
Texas
THE BAD
— Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) March 5, 2025THE FIT
Alfred Collins is a throwback defensive tackle—big, physical, and nasty at the point of attack. His 2024 season showcased his ability to dominate the run game and disrupt plays with length and power, making him an immediate early-down contributor in the NFL. His pass-rush skills need development, but his frame, football IQ, and versatility offer a foundation for growth. For a team seeking a trench warrior to clog lanes and set the tone, Collins is a Day 2 steal with starter potential in the right system.
He’s best utilized as a 3-4 nose tackle or 4-3 1-technique in a gap-control defense that prioritizes stopping the run. His elite run-stopping ability and physical tools make him a safe, high-floor pick, but his limited pass-rush ceiling caps him outside Day 1 and more likely a late Day 2 option.
The Dallas Cowboys would look to tap into Collins’ strengths as a run-stuffing defensive tackle with his size and power. He would look to play as a 1-technique nose tackle where his ability to anchor against double teams and disrupt blocking schemes would shine for Dallas. Collins’ experience at Texas—playing 0-tech, 1-tech, 3-tech, and even some 4i/5-tech—gives him the flexibility to adapt to the new coaching plans.
Collins could step in as a Day 1 rotational player, likely spelling or challenging Mazi Smith for snaps at the 1-tech. His ability to eat blocks and reset the line of scrimmage would bolster Dallas’ run defense, particularly on early downs. Pairing him with Osa Odighizuwa (who has just signed a contract extension) would create a balanced front—Odighizuwa’s quickness complementing Collins’ size and power.
If Smith doesn’t pan out, Collins could claim the starting nose tackle role by the following season, anchoring the line for years.
COMPARISON:
Akiem Hicks, New Orleans
BTB GRADE:
64th
CONSENSUS RANKING:
55th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
Brandin Cooks believes the Cowboys did not utilize him to his full strengths.
There are a number of former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers who will be looking for new contracts when free agency begins next week. Amari Cooper is set to hit the open market. On Friday afternoon it was reported that Michael Gallup is going to join him in an attempted return to the NFL. Brandin Cooks is the only one of the group coming off just playing for the Cowboys, but he too will also be seeking a new opportunity for work.
For all we know any one of them could return to the Cowboys. As noted, Cooks returning would be the least dramatic as he has played for the team for the last two seasons and while there were some solid moments in that time it was also a little disappointing.
Consider that before joining the Cowboys that Brandin Cooks had at least one season where he recorded 1,000 receiving yards for every team he played for: New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans. That streak died with the Cowboys, at least for now.
According to Cooks, by way of Josina Anderson, it appears that he believes the Cowboys did not utilize him to his full strengths.
Between his two seasons with the Cowboys the better one for Cooks was obviously in 2023. He “only” had 81 targets across that season which at the time was the third-fewest in his career (only his rookie season with the Saints and his final season with the Rams saw less). Last season was tough for Cooks and established a new career low.
Can it be argued that Cooks was not utilized to his full strengths? These things are subjective so you could make the case. But it is worth mentioning that the first season in which he arrived, CeeDee Lamb basically set every receiving record in franchise history. The second season was full of toxicity before it ever began, and the franchise quarterback was lost for the season before the halfway point. Context matters.
For what it’s worth, Cooks’ line does not read like someone taking a shot at the team that just employed him, but rather someone looking to say he still has something to offer another NFL team who may be thinking about bringing him in shortly.
Do you agree with his estimation that he was not utilized properly?
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Commanders appear to want more than the way last season went for them.
Commanders’ LB Bobby Wagner one of two players re-signed on Thursday - David Harrison, WUSA9.com
Washington is bringing back a key defender for at least one more season.
Giants QB rumors: Tommy DeVito re-signing with team, making him the only QB on the roster at the moment - Jeff Kerr, CBS Sports
A fan-favorite quarterback is on New York’s roster for 2025.
Eagles Pro Bowler Linked To AFC Contender After Release - Patrick McAvoy, Sports Illustrated
The fan-favorite former Eagle may be heading to a good fit for another bird team.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
The Cowboys appear to have a plan of sorts this offseason.
Between last offseason, the 2024 season that saw the Dallas Cowboys finish a distant third to the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders in the NFC East, and the beginning of this current offseason, the Cowboys fan experience hasn’t been the most joyous endeavor for a long period of time now. This is well understood in all of the criticism the franchise has rightfully drawn.
Their response to this wave of negativity so far has been shaking up the coaching staff all the way from the top down, replacing Mike McCarthy with Brian Schottenheimer as head coach and hiring new offensive and defensive coordinators Klayton Adams and Matt Eberflus. The Cowboys have also replaced last year’s disingenuous “all in” mantra with a new “selectively aggressive” mindset, something they’ve shown slightly already by getting a new contract done early with defensive cog Osa Odighizuwa, beginning negotiations with Micah Parsons, and restructuring both CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. None of these moves so far have reinvigorated the fanbase entirely, especially not with Kellen Moore and the Eagles being Super Bowl champions and - much more recently - the Dan Quinn led Commanders trading just a fifth-round pick for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
The Commanders made this move out of seemingly nowhere and snuck in a subtle jab that teams truly looking to get better can do so at any time, at a moment’s notice. This is a lesson the Cowboys have refused to learn under the current front office. All of their offseason moves so far still point to keeping things relatively status quo and lining things up for the draft to be their lottery draw’s chance at changing fortunes. One look at the amount of holes on the Cowboys current roster is all that’s needed to see that putting more faith than needed in lottery tickets isn’t the best idea.
This whole picture created a reaction to the Samuel trade from Cowboys faithful that opened up old wounds and was just the latest opportunity to point out how behind this team is. Wide receiver remains a pressing need for the Cowboys, Samuel was a part of four straight wins for the 49ers against the Cowboys including two in the playoffs starting his rookie season, and now Jayden Daniels has yet another weapon to build on a tremendous rookie season.
I’ll be the first to admit that my reaction fell into this same line of thinking when the notification came across that of all teams, a Cowboys rival was the one benefitting from the end of the drama between Samuel and his original team the 49ers. Samuel is a plus scheme fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and needed support for Terry McLaurin in the current Commanders offense. He is capable of lining up all over the field, feasting on the yards after the catch opportunities that made Daniels so dynamic as a rookie, and bringing veteran experience to a team looking to build off a surprise trip to the NFC Championship game.
With Washington also only giving up a fifth-round pick for Samuel, the comparison was immediately easy to make back to the Cowboys late season trade for Jonathan Mingo. Dallas traded away this year’s fourth-round pick for a receiver that caught five passes for 46 yards in eight games. He never played more than 50% of the team’s offensive snaps in any of his appearances with the Cowboys, despite being out of the playoff picture and without their starting quarterback. The Cowboys will be counting on bringing Mingo through the offseason program to help grow his role going into his first full season with the team, as well as his scheme fit in Schottenheimer’s offense being more of a positive compared to Mike McCarthy’s.
Such is the crux of where the Cowboys should actually be complimented for getting back to the football side of their operation at the start of the Schottenheimer era. In a limited sample size that will need to expand in free agency, the draft, and potentially the trade market, the Cowboys are cutting through the noise and prioritizing specific scheme fits their new coaches are looking for. The prioritization of the Odighizuwa deal can be accredited to the Cowboys being extremely thin elsewhere at defensive tackle, but also how much new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus values the 3-tech position Odighizuwa plays and had a career high 4.5 sacks at last season. Schottenheimer’s vision for more “cut splits” (i.e. tight formations and targeting receivers out of the slot) could be the most beneficial thing for Mingo to actually live up to the fourth-round pick price tag as a big, lanky receiver with an above average catch radius.
Somewhere under the avalanche of comparisons that came out after the Super Bowl between the champion Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, the club is actually resembling one important aspect from the team that reclaimed the division from them and parlayed it into a Lombardi trophy. Where the Eagles know precisely the type of players they are looking for to fit their specific schemes, and are willing to pay nearly anything to get them, the Cowboys are laying this ground work to understand the players their new staff wants and prioritizing it. Schottenheimer’s staff coming together quickly ahead of the Senior Bowl and other key draft process dates was an impressive bit of work here to give the Cowboys some advantage.
None of this comes with the guarantee that this will be the staff that gets the Cowboys back to championship glory, but if the Cowboys aren’t at least operating with this goal in mind, it would only confirm the worst possible suspicions about how winning between the lines takes a backseat in Dallas. There are no guarantees today, tomorrow, or anytime in the NFL.
The Cowboys are often criticized for not making every possible move like the Samuel trade, not signing every free agent, or being interested in all ways of upgrading the roster 24/7. While the intent behind this criticism is fair compared to how the Cowboys actually operate, teams that are truly this reactionary rarely have as much success as those with regimented plans like the Eagles. The time for the Cowboys deliverance and patience to go from something of a positive right now to a potential negative if the first wave of free agency comes and goes without any signings is rapidly approaching, but for now they are at least taking steps to show that sitting at 7-10 and third in the NFC East is unacceptable.
If the secret is fully out of the bag by now that “all in” was effectively declaring a rebuild in 2024, this process is ongoing under Schottenheimer and will require patience from Cowboys fans that can only be earned if the team continues to make smart moves and add complementary players at positions with already established talent. The team met with top wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan, Isaiah Bond, and Matthew Golden at the combine, all are potential weapons to alleviate pressure off of Lamb. Helping Dak Prescott with a strong run game again is one of the most viable reasons Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is the most popular mock draft pick to Dallas, who also met with four other running backs at the combine.
This roster needs a lot of work, but the Cowboys are showing bit by bit they are willing to do the work, and with an eternity until all of us find out if it results in wins on the field or not, this is as good a sign as any for early March.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
The latest and greatest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here.
Getting deal for Micah early 'was always the goal' - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
This is exactly what the Cowboys should do.
How tightfisted Dallas Cowboys evolved from big spenders to bit players in NFL free agency - Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys have done a complete 180 from decades past.
Open Market: Jourdan Lewis headlines free agency options at cornerback for Cowboys - Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
Lewis is a big in-house priority considering the state of the cornerback position in Dallas.
Former Cowboys wide receiver plotting a comeback for 2025 season after recent retirement - Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports
The former third-round pick for the Cowboys wants to get back on the gridiron.
A huge opportunity just came up for the Cowboys to parlay $80 million deal into one of the scariest duos in the entire NFL - Mauricio Rodriguez, AtoZ Sports
Getting this player would change the Cowboys' entire defense.
Cowboys mock draft 2.0: Trying to fill every roster hole in 7 rounds - Jon Machota, The Athletic
Dallas goes heavy on the offensive side of the ball early in this mock draft.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Michael Gallup is reportedly looking to return to the NFL after a year away.
Next week will bring free agency across the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys would be wise to pick up a wide receiver when it all begins. Names like Tyler Lockett make a lot of sense for Dallas, especially given his familiarity with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, having worked together with the Seattle Seahawks.
In the theme of reunions, Amari Cooper is also set to be a free agent and that would certainly be interesting. What’s more is that it was reported on Friday afternoon that Cooper is not the only former Cowboys wideout looking for a new team.
Michael Gallup is eyeing a return to the NFL.
The Cowboys released Gallup last offseason after a down 2023 season from him. You will recall that Dallas extended him two years prior to that, shortly before trading Cooper to the Cleveland Browns.
Unfortunately, Gallup never lived up to that extension, but in his defense he was coming off of a torn ACL when the Cowboys gave it to him. Taken in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Gallup was an extremely serviceable player for the Cowboys, but in the end it was best for Dallas to move on.
Tom Pelissero noted that the Las Vegas Raiders released Gallup from the Reserved/Retired list on Friday. You may have forgotten that Gallup signed with them ahead of last season. He did not play at all.
In his last season with Dallas, Gallup played in all 17 games and had 34 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns. For context, that was CeeDee Lamb’s huge 2023 year, but again, it was time for the Cowboys to move on.
Maybe the Cowboys will be looking at one of these vets in the next week or so.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
There are a number of veterans on the market who could help the Cowboys.
The term “selectively aggressive” from Stephen Jones took the world be storm at the NFL combine. While Cowboys fans have become very familiar with the Cowboys lackluster use of free agency, the recent reports and whispers suggest we could see a slight change in their approach in 2025.
With that being said, no one expects the Cowboys to go out and spend major money in free agency, but could signing one of these recently released vets help get the Cowboys back to playoff contention in 2025?
Joey Bosa
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25900471/2193254025.jpg "AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Los Angeles Chargers v Houston Texans")
Let me start off by saying this is a big name, which likely means his price tag will take the Cowboys out of the running for pursuing the former Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher. But we are mentioning him due to how highly the Cowboys viewed him coming out of Ohio State in the 2016 NFL draft.
Joey Bosa, when healthy, is still one of the better defensive ends in the NFL, but staying healthy has been the main issue for Bosa over the last few years. Since 2022, Bosa has played in just 28 games, racking up 18 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Bosa primarily plays on the left side which is where DeMarcus Lawrence spent most of his time since Micah Parsons arrived in Dallas. Depending on the money here, the Cowboys could very well make an aggressive push for Bosa, based on his success in the NFL so far, and how they felt about him coming out of Ohio State back in 2016.
Dre’Mont Jones
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25900485/2189078668.jpg "Seattle Seahawks v Arizona Cardinals")
Fresh off the new contract for Osa Odighizuwa, the Cowboys would be wise to add another versatile defensive lineman prior to the NFL draft. Dre’Mont Jones is a very intriguing option for Dallas due to his ability to play both defensive tackle and defensive end. Jones signed a nice contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2023, but was released on March 4th as the Seahawks are looking to clear cap space before the start of the league year.
Jones had a very strong 2024 season, finishing with four sacks, seven tackles for loss, 13 QB hits, and 45 pressures. Those 45 pressures would have ranked fourth on the Cowboys last year behind Micah Parsons, Osa Odighizuwa, and DeMarvion Overshown.
Tyler Lockett
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25900504/2192319454.jpg "Seattle Seahawks v Los Angeles Rams")
This is one that just makes a lot of sense for both parties. The Cowboys have a big need at wide receiver with Brandin Cooks likely leaving in free agency, and even though Tyler Lockett is on the wrong side of 32, he has plenty of familiarity with Brian Schottenheimer.
While Lockett is on the decline at this point in his career, he still has enough left in the tank to be a nice complement to CeeDee Lamb and bridge to a young receiver the Cowboys could draft this April to develop into an eventual WR2. Lockett played 762 snaps in 2024, 545 coming on the outside with 215 coming from the slot. That split matches up well with CeeDee Lamb’s role in the offense and would be a great replacement for Brandin Cooks who had a similar percentage of snaps on the outside in 2024.
At this point in his career, Lockett will likely be pretty affordable and could look to return to his familiarity with Schottenheimer to close out his NFL career. While he should not be viewed as the solution for the Cowboys wide receiver issues, he can be a major part of the fix moving forward.
Preston Smith
Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25900522/2187609580.jpg "Pittsburgh Steelers v Cincinnati Bengals")
Last but not least, we have Preston Smith. Smith, a former Green Bay Packer and Pittsburgh Steeler, was released by the Steelers in February after trading for him at the deadline last season.
Smith, now 32, finished with just 4.5 sacks in 2024, but reached eight sacks in 2023 (8), 2022 (8.5), and 2021 (9) with the Green Bay Packers. While Smith may not be the pressure player he was in his younger days, he remains a very good player against the run, receiving run defense grades of 64.3 (2024), 74.3 (2023), 64.1 (2022), and 72.1 (2021). If the Cowboys are unable to bring back DeMarcus Lawrence, finding a reliable run defender to play opposite Micah Parsons will be a key need for the Cowboys coming out of this offseason.
With Smith’s age and natural decline, he could be a player that falls in the Cowboys price range, which would bring some value to Matt Eberflus as the team’s first-year defensive coordinator.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Your Sunday morning Cowboys news.
2025 NFL free agency: Ranking top 100 players, QBs available - Matt Bowen, ESPN
Where the Cowboys top free agents rank.
Will McClay’s track record in the 1st round puts him a cut above the rest-Mario Herrera Jr., Inside the Star
How Will McClay’s first-round success sets him apart.
Cowboys Predicted To Make 8 Bold Free Agency Moves Despite Jerry Jones’ ‘Void’ Warning - Nathan Karseno, Athlon Sports
Eight hot takes for what what the Cowboys could do in free agency despite Jerry Jones’ cool demeanor.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Stefon Diggs is a name to keep in mind.
Free agency is set to begin next week, and the Dallas Cowboys have quite a few holes to fill. One of the most glaring is the wide receiver position. Outside of CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys don't have a legitimate WR2, although Jalen Tolbert is coming off his best season in the league. Nothing against his development, or even Jonathan Mingo and Jalen Brooks, but there's certainly room to bring in a proven starter.
When looking at the receiver market, there are plenty of options for the Cowboys to choose from like Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin, Tyler Lockett, and more. However, Pro Football Focus says the perfect match for the Cowboys would be to acquire four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs.
Diggs spent his first five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. After signing a five-year extension worth $72 million in 2018, Diggs had his first 1,000-yard campaign and followed it up with another the next season. However, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills before the 2020 season. Diggs would have his best season in the NFL that year as he led the league in receptions (127) and yards (1,535) while earning first-team All-Pro honors. The kicked off a four-year streak for Diggs hauling in over 100 catches and gaining over 1,000 yards.
The Bills traded Diggs to the Houston Texans last April. Unfortunately, Diggs suffered a torn ACL last October and was shut down for the year. In the eight games he played in, Diggs registered 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns. So, he was on pace for another season of over 100 receptions and 1,000 yards. While that's great, he is coming off a major injury, and he's 31 years old, which causes some concern.
The current market value for Diggs is $13.5 million, according to Spotrac. Per Over The Cap, the Cowboys have the 10th most salary cap space at $54 million. So, they have enough to take on a contract that Diggs would command. From a football standpoint, Diggs would give Dallas a legit WR2 opposite Lamb that would open up the passing game for quarterback Dak Prescott, and the Cowboys could add another early in the draft like a Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona in the first round to legitimize the entire unit.
Will see what the Cowboys do as far as upgrading the receiver room in free agency, but Diggs is certainly a player to consider. And we know that he and his brother Trevon have wanted to team up for a while.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys have to find a way to bring in some talent.
It’s free agency week! Yay for fans whose teams participate in free agency. For many, this is a time to get excited as fans get some new toys to root for. For the Dallas Cowboys, it’s a bit of a different story. As we know, our beloved Cowboys are not big players in free agency. Because of that, we have conditioned ourselves to lower our expectations. This is our reality.
But... the Cowboys have recently completed some restructures and moved some money around creating a heap of resources available to spend however they want. Does that mean they would dare splash around in free agency? Not necessarily, but anything is possible, amiright?
With free agency kicking off, let’s run through each position group and figure out how they might address certain areas of their roster.
QUARTERBACK
The Cowboys are set with Dak Prescott as their starting quarterback. Prescott is locked in with the team as he is under contract for the next four seasons, but they could still use a backup. Both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are unrestricted free agents. Rush seems like a candidate to retain as he’s been their “steady Eddie” backup over the last few years. The team could also look to select a development QB late in the draft since the Trey Lance experiment appears to be over.
Solution: Re-sign Rush and add a late-round rookie
RUNNING BACK
Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis are the only running backs under contract this upcoming season, so it’s no secret this position group is a big concern heading into the new season. The Cowboys need serious help in this area so expect multiple pieces to be added. It may or may not include Rico Dowdle depending on his price, but the team could package a low-cost free agent with a new rookie. They absolutely must draft a running back next month as their lack of attention in prior drafts has boxed them into a corner. It can still be fixed without anything major, but they must take action over the next couple of months.
Solution: Re-sign Dowdle and select a running back within the first two days of the draft
WIDE RECEIVER
This is another area where help is needed as the team has CeeDee Lamb and nobody else. The Jalen Tolbert experiment hasn’t gone well and he only has one year left on his rookie deal. The Cowboys traded for Jonathan Mingo last year, but few are holding their breath with that one. They need to add a bona fide WR2 somewhere, whether it’s one of the enticing available veteran free agents or in the draft. Which way will they go?
Solution: Select a wide receiver within the first two days of the draft
TIGHT END
The Cowboys have some bodies at tight end with the trio of Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, and Brevyn Spann-Ford under contract. Ferguson is entering the last year of his rookie deal, so the team should start looking ahead, but don’t expect anything ground-shaking here. New offensive coordinator and former offensive lines coach Klayton Adams loves to use his tight ends, so expect the team to bring on a quality in-line blocker to help Fergy and Schoony hold things down. That could come in the form of a low-cost free agent or reaching deep in the draft pool.
Solution: Late-round draft pick or priority free agent
OFFENSIVE LINE
Oddly enough, the team is in relatively good shape along the offensive line. Yes, in less than a year, they’ve lost Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, but they seem unfazed by it. The interior line is set with All-Pro Tyler Smith, rising star Cooper Beebe, and the surprisingly reliable Brock Hoffman. The real questions belong out on the edge. Despite his inconsistent play, Terence Steele isn’t going anywhere and could shock some people this season in the Cowboys revamped rushing attack. The biggest enigma is second-year tackle Tyler Guyton. Can he take a step forward? If that works out, the line may be better than some expect as they still have solid young depth with T.J. Bass and Asim Richards waiting their turn.
Solution: Low-cost free agent of no consequence who has position flexibility
DEFENSIVE END
Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland will be fixtures along the edge for at least the next three years. Sam Williams returns from injury, but he only has one year left on his rookie deal. The DeMarcus Lawrence situation is interesting as it would be wonderful if they could sneak him back on the team for a short-term, team-friendly deal. Whether it’s Tank or someone else, the Cowboys are crafty in finding these short-term veteran solutions to rush the quarterback. Players like Aldon Smith, Robert Quinn, Dante Fowler, and most recently, Carl Lawson have all been nice adds in recent years. While those are short-term answers, we can’t rule out using another premium draft resource if the right guy falls to them.
Solution: Re-sign Carl Lawson
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
The team already made a big splash by giving Osa Odighizuwa a four-year extension. They also have Mazi Smith who is only halfway through his rookie deal. While the starters may be intact, they don’t have much for depth. In the past, they loved to find low-cost veteran nose tackles like Carlos Watkins, Johnathan Hankins, or Linval Joseph, so why should we expect anything to change? Similar to edge, DT could be a position where they make a surprise draft pick if the right player is there.
Solution: Low-cost veteran free agent for depth
LINEBACKER
This is another area where the Cowboys need some bodies. With DeMarvion Overshown’s health in question, the only trusted linebacker they have is second-year player Marist Liufau. Like running back, we should expect the team to double-dip with a low-cost free agent and a rookie draft pick. Linebackers have thrived under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, so it’s hard to imagine the Cowboys skimping at this position if they want their defense to have a fighting chance.
***SPLASH ALERT***
Solution: Mid-level cost free agent linebacker + mid-round rookie draft pick
CORNERBACK
This is where things get interesting. The Cowboys have two All-Pro corners under contract this upcoming season. Sadly, there is a lot of uncertainty about these two All-Pro corners muddying the waters a little. Starting with the health of Trevon Diggs. We have no idea what to expect from him in 2025. His teammate DaRon Bland is entering the final year of his rookie deal and he may leave for a big payday unless the Cowboys decide to throw big money at two cornerbacks. This puts the team in a tough spot, but here’s the good news. The Cowboys sit in a great position to draft one of the stronger corners in this draft. There is a cluster of talent in the second round ranging from the late 30’s to early 50’s where they could find an immediate starter. Combine that with re-upping on veteran slot corner Jourdan Lewis and suddenly, they’re back in business.
Solution: Re-sign Lewis and draft a top collegiate corner by round two
SAFETY
Malik Hooker is still under team control for the next two years and they also are keeping Juanyeh Thomas around for at least one more season. Donovan Wilson is a wild card as he could end up being released for cap-saving purposes as he is due $6.5 million this season. The Cowboys have options here. They could sift through the bargain bin for a cheap free agent filler like they did with a few years ago with Jayron Kearse and the aforementioned Hooker. Or they can take a late-round flyer on a guy like they did with Xavier Woods and the aforementioned Wilson. Or, they could do both. The Wilson decision will dictate how many darts they throw to shore up the safety position.
Solution: Release Wilson and draft his replacement on Day 3
Here is a layout of a potential offseason plan for the Cowboys. If this is the approach they take, what players do you think would fill in the missing pieces?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25902627/A1_image.png)
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
The Myles Garrett contract will clearly have an impact on the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons.
The leaves are officially falling. On Sunday morning we got news that the Cleveland Browns agreed to a contract extension with star pass rusher Myles Garrett. There is over $123M guaranteed on the deal and it averages $40M per season. He is the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league now.
The verbiage about being the “highest-paid non-quarterback in the league” might sound familiar to you. This is the case because it was thrown out about the deal that the Las Vegas Raiders gave to Maxx Crosby... four days ago.
Put simply, this is the way the game is played. If you have demonstrated that you are one of the elite players at a certain position, a high-paying one like pass rusher, then when it is your turn to get paid you get the moniker assigned to you.
That feels important for the Dallas Cowboys right now.
Here is how the Myles Garrett deal impacts the Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys were first able to negotiate an extension with Micah Parsons last offseason. That would have been the ideal time to get it done. At that moment in time, the pass rusher market was much more calm than it has gotten this past week. San Francisco’s Nick Bosa led the group with an AAV of $34M. That has now been outdone twice in the span of a few days as noted.
Obviously the Cowboys were preoccupied with tending to deals for CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott that came in late last offseason. They could have made an effort to get all three done, maybe they did, but waiting on those cost them, and waiting here has done so as well.
Parsons has been on record several times lately in saying that he would take less from the Cowboys in the name of another potential goal. He recently said he would if Dallas were able to acquire Myles Garrett (this was when Garrett made a trade request, the one that obviously led to this deal) but that is now impossible.
Back in December, Parsons said specifically that he did not need $40M per year. These are all interesting comments and may have been genuine from him, but Parsons has representation who may push for the maximum. $40M per year from a pass rusher or non-quarterback standpoint was merely a hypothetical when Parsons offered it. Now it is literally the market price.
The best assumption in our new world is that Parsons is going to clear the deal that Garrett just got and probably by a comfortable margin. Given that he is at the moment set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, obviously a franchise tag in 2026 and even beyond is possible, it also stands to reason that it will happen before the season begins.
Will that be soon? Will it come during the summer? Are we looking at another situation akin to Lamb and/or Prescott? Time will tell. The Cowboys did clear about $55M in salary cap space this past week. Maybe it was for this. Maybe it is for something else.
