With the 2024 regular season now in the rearview mirror, one which ended with a heartbreaking 23-17 loss to the Washington Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys can now turn their full attention to the upcoming offseason.
Fans of America's Team are obviously hoping that some of the holes on this roster, of which there are many, will be filled when free agency begins on March 12.
But that was also the thought process a year ago, and everyone knows how Jerry Jones handled that. And given the Cowboys' current salary-cap situation, one wouldn't think things will go much better on that front this spring.
As such, Dallas will undoubtedly need to have a strong 2025 NFL Draft to bolster its roster and will start with a pick that worked out very well for this team the last time they had it.
The Dallas Cowboys own the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
Finishing the 2024 campaign at 7-10, the only team in the league to finish with that record, the Cowboys head into the 2025 NFL Draft holding the 12th overall pick in the first round.
The last time they held that pick, of course, was in 2021, when they made a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to move down two slots from No. 10 to No. 12, where they selected Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, who's made four Pro Bowls in four seasons and is just the fourth player in league history to record double-digit sacks in his first four campaigns.
As for what the Cowboys will be looking for come April 24 in Green Bay, one would think everything outside of quarterback and kicker will be on the table. If forced to list the top five needs for Dallas right now, they'd likely be offensive guard, running back, defensive tackle, cornerback, and linebacker.
Given the Cowboys' issues at running back, it's going to be very tempting for Jerry Jones to take Boise State's Ashton Jeanty with that No. 12 pick. Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III could also be on Jones' radar if he's looking for offensive production with the selection.
If Dallas goes the defensive route, Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker could be a solid fit, as could Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton.
Updated 2025 NFL Draft order
Here's a look at the first 18 selections of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
PICK | TEAM | RECORD |
|---|---|---|
1 | Tennessee Titans | 3-14 |
2 | Cleveland Browns | 3-14 |
3 | New York Giants | 3-14 |
4 | New England Patriots | 4-13 |
5 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 4-13 |
6 | Las Vegas Raiders | 4-13 |
7 | New York Jets | 5-12 |
8 | Carolina Panthers | 5-12 |
9 | New Orleans Saints | 5-12 |
10 | Chicago Bears | 5-12 |
11 | San Francisco 49ers | 6-11 |
12 | Dallas Cowboys | 7-10 |
13 | Miami Dolphins | 8-9 |
14 | Indianapolis Colts | 8-9 |
15 | Atlanta Falcons | 8-9 |
16 | Arizona Cardinals | 8-9 |
17 | Cincinnati Bengals | 9-8 |
18 | Seattle Seahawks | 10-7 |
The remaining 14 slots will be determined by the results of the NFL Playoffs.
Teams eliminated in the Wild Card Round receive picks 19-24. Those eliminated during the Divisional Round receive picks 25-28. And the losers of the conference championship matchups receive picks 29 and 30. Each group's order is based on regular-season records, and tiebreakers are used if necessary.
Pick No. 31 goes to the team that loses the Super Bowl, while No. 32 is distributed to the team that hoists the Lombardi Trophy.