Now that the Cowboys are entering a new era under Brian Schottenheimer, finding high-impact players over the offseason will be pivotal.
What better way to strengthen a roster than through the NFL draft? Although Dallas sits just outside the first round’s top 10, the club should still have a shot at a game-changing prospect.
Which prospect could the Cowboys take with the 12th overall pick in the 2025 draft? Here’s what notable mock drafts have to say:
Alabama OG Tyler Booker
ESPN’s Peter Schrager (April 23): “Booker, a bully of a guard, could help add some much-needed beef to the Cowboys’ line. Having had Zack Martin retire this offseason, there’s going to be a desire to fill the interior with a plug-and-play lineman. Everyone will be clamoring for the Cowboys to take a running back or receiver. Let’s go guard, though. That’s how I see it.”
Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan
ESPN’s Field Yates (April 24): “The Cowboys are short on offensive playmakers alongside CeeDee Lamb, making McMillan a seamless fit. He has excellent size, runs efficient routes and has a big catch radius. And he’s the only FBS player with more than 1,300 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. Dak Prescott would look his way often in the red zone.”
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (April 23): “I could see the Cowboys trying to trade out of this pick, but if they stay at No. 12, they could be choosing between the top remaining wide receivers, North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton and Alabama OG Tyler Booker. In this case, they go with a big target to complement CeeDee Lamb.”
ESPN’s Matt Miller (April 23): “Dallas did a ton of work on the offensive linemen in this class and could be a trade-down candidate. I think Banks would be in play if available, but sources were adamant this week that McMillan would be Dallas’ target if the board falls this way.”
ESPN’s Jordan Reid (April 21): “The Cowboys are in desperate need of a WR2 opposite CeeDee Lamb. McMillan is a changeup from any option Dak Prescott has recently had; he’s a big-bodied target who can attack a defense on multiple levels. Over three seasons at Arizona, McMillan had 33 receptions on balls thrown 20 or more yards downfield, which led the country. He can also win underneath, leading the FBS with 145 receiving first downs in the same three-year span. Meanwhile, Dallas ranked 31st in red zone efficiency (46%) last season, an area that McMillan could help improve with his ability to win one-on-one matchups.”
Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt (April 21): “They could probably address a few different areas. ... Why not go out and get a wide receiver to go with CeeDee Lamb?”
Missouri OG/OT Armand Membou
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein (April 24): “Dallas wants to fix the trenches. Membou falling to No. 12 allows the Cowboys to pluck the talented right tackle and plug him in quickly.”
North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks (April 22): “The team needs a true RB1 to steady an offense that is always better when it operates with a run-first premise. ”
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman (April 2): “There’s a lot of speculation that Dallas will end up with Jeanty, but if he’s gone, the Cowboys still have an excellent option in the versatile Tar Heels star. The 6-0, 221-pound Hampton is a bigger back than Jeanty and has a knack for big plays. He ran a 4.46 40 at the combine with a 1.54 10-yard split to go with some elite jumping numbers of 10-10 in the broad jump and 38 inches in the vertical.”
Texas WR Matthew Golden
The Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins (April 24): “The need for speed is vital for the Cowboys. Golden is the playmaker this Cowboys’ team needs badly. Golden becomes the No. 2 man behind CeeDee Lamb. If you can do more with KaVontae Turpin’s speed then the offense has some pop.”
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly (April 23): “The Cowboys address their stark lack of depth behind CeeDee Lamb at receiver, bringing in a dynamic playmaker in Golden. The former Longhorns star is an electric athlete who can line up outside, beat coverage, and win at the catch point, adding some run-after-the-catch talent to boot. He’s a perfect complement for Lamb and should provide a nice boost for Dak Prescott in 2025 and beyond.”
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (Apr. 16): “The Cowboys could go in a few directions at No. 12: cornerback, defensive line, even Jeanty if he falls. But adding another catcher would help put points on the board, and Golden’s ability to play inside-outside and create throwing windows would make him a natural complement to CeeDee Lamb.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. (April 15): “I thought about North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, but the possibility of Golden’s 4.29 speed and great route running opposite CeeDee Lamb just make too much sense. The Cowboys can finally get some reliability at WR2 for quarterback Dak Prescott. They haven’t had two wide receivers over 700 yards since Lamb and Amari Cooper both did it in 2021.”
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