The 2025 NFL Draft is over and it is hard to say anything bad about the Dallas Cowboys.
No, they didn't take a new wide receiver. Whether through a trade or free agency, you have to think Dallas will add a veteran in the not-so distant future. Imagine saying that just a week ago?
The draft itself offers a lot of room for excitement. Let's jump right in.
Grading every Cowboys 2025 draft pick
Tyler Booker: B+
It didn't sit right at first that the Cowboys used the No. 12 pick on a guard. They signed multiple backup guards in free agency, including Saahdiq Charles, Robert Jones and Hakeem Adeniji. The roster building strategy didn't add up.
After sitting on it, though, Booker is a really solid pick. While a slight reach, he fills a monster need at right guard after Zack Martin retired. Booker didn't allow a single sack in his final season at Alabama. He is a natural leader and checks the alpha box that Dallas is evidently championing under Brian Schotenheimer.
Bold prediction: Booker only allows two sacks as a rookie
Donovan Ezeiruaku: A+
The Cowboys committed highway robbery getting Ezeiruaku at No. 44 overall.
A first round player according to many experts, including the No. 17 overall player on PFF's big board, Ezeiruaku gives Dallas another pure pass rusher. While not a overwhelming need after the team signed Dante Fowler, the EDGE group could be in flux next season.
Ezeiruaku is a gifted athlete with the production to match after finishing top three in the FBs in sacks and tackles for loss last season. He added a ridiculous 25.8% pass-rush win rate in true-pass sets, per PFF. He can be an instant star.
Bold prediction Ezeiruaku has the second-most sacks on the team in 2025 behind Micah Parsons.
Shavon Revel: A-
Revel also has the potential to be an instant stud, but that hinges on how he bounces back from a torn ACL suffered last September. The injury did a number on his draft stock as he dropped to the middle of round three after he was widely pegged as a first-round pick amid an explosive start to the season for East Carolina.
The Cowboys' cornerback room has a lot of question marks. Trevon Diggs' long-term future is something to consider after he underwent his second major knee surgery in as many years. On top of that, DaRon Bland recently said contract talks have not started.
Revel fills a huge need and Dallas got exceptional value to boot.
Bold prediction: Revel returns an interception for a touchdown in year one
Jaydon Blue: B+
The Cowboys did not panic to address the running back position. That was the only way to approach an historically deep class. Sure enough, they were rewarded in Texas speed demon Jaydon Blue.
Often hidden behind star runners at Texas, Blue made the most of being in a featured role last season. He forced 37 missed tackles on 140 carries to go with 730 rushing yards and eight scores. He is also a natural pass catcher out of the backfield, as evidenced by his 42 receptions for 368 yards and six scores in his final year in Austin.
If Blue can take better care of the ball (he fumbled four times last year, losing three), he has a clear path to the RB1 job.
Bold prediction: Blue posts 1,300 scrimmage yards as a rookie
Shemar James: C+
Minutes after selecting Blue, the Cowboys jumped to pick No. 154 in a trade with the Cardinals to select James. The Cowboys' war room was seen giving high fives once they submitted the pick. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus led that charge, which is telling.
James played over 1,000 snaps in his three years at Florida. That experience could prove invaluable in a youthful Dallas linebacker room. He can be effective as an outside linebacker who can double as a blitzer, but he'll need to improve his processing at the line of scrimmage.
Bold prediction: James records 4.0 sacks as a fifth-round pick
Ajani Cornelius: B
Cornelius was widely regarded as a fourth or fifth-round player and Dallas got him deep into the sixth round. Another example of good value. The Cowboys oddly listed Cornelius as a guard even though he started at right tackle the last three seasons at Oregon.
It's clear the coaching staff views Cornelius as a guard, but that experience at tackle only adds to his value. He was a force at RT, too, allowing just four sacks and 35 pressures on nearly 1,500 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.
Bold prediction: Cornelius makes the 53-man roster comfortably
Jay Toia: A-
It took until the final round, but Dallas finally beefed up the interior defensive line in Toia. The former UCLA standout is your typical unheralded nose tackle who does all of the dirty work for his teammates, whether they're coming off the edge or play linebacker.
What makes Toia such a great fit with the Cowboys is that he's not easy to move. He's every bit of 6-3 and 325 pounds. As a unit, this defense needs more of that in its DT rotation. Toia will be a very interesting player to watch during the offseason program.
Bold prediction: Toia threatens Mazi Smith for playing time at NT
Phil Mafah: B
Running back is a position seemingly everyone wanted Dallas to double dip, and for good reason. Credit to the front office for accomplishing that on the draft's final day.
A violent runner, Mafah is a perfect complement to Jaydon Blue. He averaged an impressive 3.24 yards after contact per carry at Clemson last season. Arm tackles are useless against Mafah, who isn't afraid to lower his shoulder when meeting DBs in the open field.
Bold prediction: Mafah makes the roster over Miles Sanders
Tommy Akingbesote: B-
The great Dane Brugler of The Athletic called Akingbesote "more of a cog in the machine than a difference-maker that jumped off the tape or the stat sheet." That's not a ringing endorsement by any means, but we're also talking about one of the final picks of the draft. There are going to be holes in his game.
Akingbesote is still developing as a pass rusher but he can stack and shed at an adequate level and will likely be comfortable in multiple schemes.
Bold prediction: Akingbesote makes the 53-man roster