With free agency all but over, the Dallas Cowboys will have their eyes set on the 2025 NFL draft that is little over a month away.
While there are still a handful of players still left in free agency that could upgrade the current Cowboys depth chart, it sure sounds like the Cowboys will focus on the draft to find starters and key contributors at certain positions from this point forward. Today we will do a seven-round mock draft to fill out this Cowboys roster.
Let’s dive in.
Round 1, 16th Overall Pick (TRADE)
DAL 1:12 for ARI 1:16 & 3:78
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
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After passing on the free agent wide receiver market, the Cowboys will turn to the draft to find their WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb. While it should not shock anyone if the Cowboys elect to rely on Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, or an uptick in KaVontae Turpin snaps to fill that role, the Cowboys should heavily consider using their first- or second-round pick on a receiver in this draft. In a weaker class of receivers, this position could be one that falls a bit from what we are all used to seeing. With no consensus WR1, it should not shock anyone if only one receiver goes in the top 20.
Tetairoa McMillan is the likely candidate to be the first receiver drafted. Once considered a top 10 player in the class, concerns regarding McMillan’s speed and versatility has seen him fall in most analysts rankings leading up to the draft. With McMillan, Jahdae Barron, and Josh Simmons the candidates at 12, trading back four spots and picking up an additional third-round pick was the move here. Needing wide receiver and cornerback help, moving back four spots and selecting one of McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, or Matthew Golden was a rather easy decision. The Cowboys desperately need an X-receiver and McMillan thankfully stayed on the board until the Cowboys got on the clock. McMillan is not the twitchiest receiver in this class, but his size, length, and ball skills at the catch point make him a safe prospect in this class to play alongside CeeDee Lamb.
Round 2, 44th Overall
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
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The Cowboys did a nice job of filling their starting running back need in free agency with two viable backs with starting experience. Even with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on the roster, the Cowboys need to find a true starter in this draft class.
TreVeyon Henderson can be just that for the Cowboys. Henderson is an explosive, three-down back that excels in the running game, passing game, and in pass protection. Henderson has the makings of being an above average starting running back in year one, with the ability to develop into a plus starter as early as year two in the right system. Henderson checks all of Brian Schottenheimer’s boxes in what he looks for in running backs and would be an instant upgrade and likely starter to start the season for the Cowboys.
Round 3, 76th Overall
Jamaree Caldwell, DL, Oregon
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We have heard a lot about the Cowboys want to beef up their run defense over the last few years. Surprisingly all their moves in free agency were more focused on pass rush, rather than beefing up the run defense. With Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas the options at 3-technique, adding a quality 1-technique to compete with Mazi Smith is a must in this draft class.
Jamaree Caldwell has been climbing up draft boards over the last month and his skill-set and traits match up well with what the Cowboys need in a defensive tackle. Caldwell’s tenacity and effort jumps off the tape at Oregon and while the sack totals in 2024 will not excite you, the player you see on tape proves to be more than just an early down nose tackle. Caldwell could compete for starting reps at the 1-technique in year one and develop into a potential plus starter in year two with his explosiveness, strength, and ability to hold up against double teams.
Round 3, 78th Overall (TRADE)
Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State
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The cornerback position for the Cowboys as of today is in drastic need of help, but with still plenty of holes on the roster, a position will likely have to suffer. At 78th overall, the best cornerback available was Cal’s Nohl Williams, instead of reaching for a position of need, taking the best player available, while also addressing a position of need in safety was the best option.
Winston suffered a partially torn ACL in September after playing in only two games for the Nittany Lions in 2024. Over the course of his career, Winston was a versatile, athletic, and rangy safety prospect that can lineup anywhere on defense and make plays. Winston’s injury will have him go much later than his healthy tape suggests, but the Cowboys love taking risks on injured players on day two that could end up being tremendous value when fully healthy. Winston fits the bill for that and could be a major upgrade to the Cowboys secondary with his ability to play multiple spots, including the slot, where the Cowboys desperately need an answer after Jourdan Lewis’ departure in free agency.
Round 5, 149th Overall
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
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With Cooper Rush heading off to Baltimore to backup Lamar Jackson, the Cowboys are in need of a capable backup quarterback. From the sounds of it, they would love to add one in the draft this April. Dillon Gabriel is the perfect backup option that can be had on day three.
Gabriel is limited due to his lack of size and high-end tools, but his experience, accuracy, and IQ at the position is the perfect dart to throw at the backup quarterback position. Gabriel has six years of college experience under his belt (in three different offensive systems) and has played a lot of football over the course of his college career. While he may not develop into an everyday starter, he has a Cooper Rush-esque ability to keep things afloat as a backup if Dak Prescott is to miss games for injury in the next few years.
Round 5, 171st Overall
Tyler Batty, EDGE, BYU
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Similar to the Jamaree Caldwell selection, Tyler Batty is the perfect addition to the Cowboys front seven that has ignored the run defense so far this offseason. Batty is the ideal left defensive end option to play opposite of Micah Parsons and Dante Fowler on early downs if need be. Batty tested better than expected, but his strength, motor, and length make him a prime candidate to be drafted on day three and play a long career in the NFL due to his high-floor. Batty would be a nice finishing touch to the Cowboys defensive end room that needs to be better against the run in 2025.
Round 5, 174th Overall
Luke Kandra, OG, Cincinnati
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With Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass slated to be the starting right guard in 2025, adding guard depth on day three is a nice insurance plan for the Cowboys. Luke Kandra has combined for 1,922 snaps at right guard over the last three years and would provide quality depth with starting potential here on day three. Kandra has the size and athleticism to fight for starting snaps in year one, but his issues in pass protection will need to get corrected before he can be trusted over veterans like Hoffman and Bass.
Round 6, 204th Overall
O’Donnell Fortune, CB, South Carolina
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It took a while, but we finally got some decent value at corner. O’Donnell Fortune meets a lot of the thresholds Will McClay and Matt Eberflus look for in corners and his zone-heavy game fits perfectly with what Eberflus calls on defense. Fortune would likely be more of a depth addition than a starter, but with the cornerback room thin with Trevon Diggs recovering for the knee injury he suffered in 2024, Fortune could see the field earlier than expected on the outside opposite of DaRon Bland.
Round 6, 211th Overall
Collin Oliver, EDGE, Oklahoma State
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There are a few edge rushers on day three that are surprisingly not getting more love as we approach the draft. Collin Oliver is one of them and provides excellent upside late in the draft. Oliver’s physical limitations and foot injury suffered in 2024 have him falling late into day three, but he is one of those guys that knows how to get to the quarterback and did it very well at Oklahoma State. Oliver racked up 23.5 sacks at Oklahoma State in four years despite his lack of size and length, but the low-risk, high-reward dart throw late on day three is a great way to spend a compensatory pick for Dallas.
Round 7, 239th Overall
Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa
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The Cowboys loaded up on linebackers in the first week of free agency, adding Jack Sanborn and trading for Kenneth Murray. Late on day three the Cowboys would be wise to add depth to the room and potentially look to upgrade their special teams in Iowa’s Jay Higgins. Higgins is a limited athlete, but his toughness, motor, and instincts allowed him to carve out a very nice career for Iowa and that should translate well to the NFL. Higgins is a high-character guy that can rotate in as an inside linebacker or serve as a key special teams player early in his career.
Round 7, 247th Overall
Xavier Truss, OT, Georgia
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With their final pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the Cowboys add to the trenches in Georgia’s Xavier Truss. Truss has played left tackle, right tackle, left guard, and right guard for the Bulldogs, but his athletic limitations will likely land him inside at guard in the NFL. While his 6-foot-7 frame has more than enough room to fill out, Truss’ versatility and experience is the main reason he could be drafted this year. Truss is likely a practice squad player, but taking a chance on an offensive lineman with his size and amount of starts in the SEC is worth the risk in the seventh round.