The Dallas Cowboys made one of the most controversial picks in the NFL Draft, selecting Tyler Booker at pick No. 12. Guards rarely go inside the top 12 selections, but that’s what the Cowboys decided to do as they clearly wanted to beef up their offensive line. That pick received mixed reviews from NFL Draft experts, but their second-round pick was unanimously praised.
The expectation was that Dallas would select an offensive playmaker in Round 2, sitting at pick No. 44. But with Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, Luther Burden, and Jayden Higgins all off the board, their options became slim. Instead of panicking and reaching for a skill position player, the Cowboys let the board fall to them, and it worked out brilliantly.
The Cowboys selected Boston College pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku with the No. 44 pick after several mock drafts had him going in the first round just a few days prior to the draft. Ezeiruaku was No. 31 on the NFL Draft Expert consensus board and was No. 30 on The Athletic’s consensus board. There is no doubt that he was a major value for the Cowboys, and his smaller stature (6’2, 248 pounds) likely caused him to fall a few spots further than he should have.
But just how good of a pick was the Ezeiruaku selection? According to Matt Miller of ESPN, it was one of the best picks in the entire draft. In a recent article on ESPN, Miller wrote about his top 100 favorite selections of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Ezeiruaku pick appeared at No. 14.
Cowboys' Donovan Ezeiruaku pick continues to receive rave reviews
Here is a snippet of what Miller had to say about the pairing:
"The Cowboys didn't get their receiver or running back needs addressed early, but they did get a speedy pass rusher to help Micah Parsons. Ezeiruaku has excellent length (34-inch arms) and a dynamic first step with closing speed off the edge. He needs to add play power but provides great value in the middle of Round 2."Matt Miller
Dallas did not have a major need at defensive end coming into the draft, especially after signing Dante Fowler to a one-year deal this offseason. But the value was too good to pass up and now Dallas can pair Ezeiruaku with Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland for the foreseeable future.
It’s unlikely that Ezeiruaku will start right away as those honors will belong to Parsons and Fowler. But don’t be surprised if Ezeiruaku gets on the field early and often due to his pass-rush prowess. He’s one of the most polished EDGE rushers in the class and his ability to win with several different moves make him a great fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense.
The Cowboys have had mixed results in Round 2 of the NFL Draft over the past few years, but Ezeiruaku sure seems like a player who will make an impact right away. Don’t be surprised if he ends up being the most productive player from the Cowboys’ 2025 draft class.