The Dallas Cowboys have an excellent track record of drafting in the first round. Dating all the way back to 2010, they've selected stars like Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith and Dez Bryant.
Any team would be lucky to have that high of batting average in round one. So why are Cowboys fans as anxious as ever heading into the 2025 draft?
It might have something to do with Dallas' last two drafts.
Recent first-round picks Mazi Smith and Tyler Guyton have not had the instant success fans are accustomed to. 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker was a questionable selectio as well. DeMarvion Overshown is the only player from that class with star potential, but he's suffered two major knee injuries in as many seasons.
Needless to say the Cowboys must hit on the No. 12 overall pick. It's anyone's guess which direction they are leaning, but they moved one step closer to making a potentially polarizing pick.
Cowboys just got one step closer to drafting Texas WR Matthew Golden in first round
According to The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler, Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden has accepted an invitation to attend the NFL Draft.
Brugler added that Golden is "in the conversation" to be the first WR drafted. This confirms Golden has closed that gap on Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan, who was arguably the best receiver in college football last season but has seen his stock fall in recent months.
Source: Texas WR Matthew Golden has accepted an invitation to attend the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 7, 2025
Golden in the conversation to be the first WR drafted.
At a blazing 4.29 seconds, Golden posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among receivers at the Combine. He doesn't play with 4.2 speed (not many players do), which is partly why the draft community is split on whether he should be the first WR drafted.
RELATED: Cowboys’ latest draft visits prove they’re moving on from 2024 disaster
Brugler had Golden No. 27 in his most recent top 100 prospect rankings. "The Beast" comes out Wednesday, so it's possible Golden jumped up Brugler's rankings. In his latest mock draft, Brugler mocked Golden to the Chargers with the 22nd pick. He had Dallas taking McMillan.
"Fluid in his releases and breaks, he (Golden) shows a plan as a route runner, and I love his ability to break down corners by keeping his eyes, hips and feet in sync," Brugler writes.
Golden has a similar build to CeeDee Lamb at 6-0 and 195 pounds. Lamb is two inches taller and has some five pounds on the former Longhorn. Like Lamb, Golden can line up out wide and in the slot. He played 376 snaps on the outside compared to 118 in the slot last season, per PFF.
Golden wasn't a focal point of Texas' offense in 2024, but he came alive during the Longhorns' run to the College Football Playoff Semifinals, averaging over 102.8 receiving yards per game over the final four games.
If the Cowboys are enamored with Golden, this might be a case where they can trade down a couple spots and still be able to draft him. They could simply play it safe and take him No. 12 overall. The fact he'll attend the draft only adds to the likelihood of the latter scenario.
manual