Inside The Star
The 1997 Cowboys draft saw a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to select LSU tight end David LaFleur in the first round. That remains the last time Dallas drafted a player at that position on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.
LaFleur played just four seasons in the league, and the 2003 selection of Jason Witten in the third round ensured the Cowboys wouldn’t need to target a tight end that early again for nearly two decades.
Fans may not expect it, but the 2025 NFL Draft could break that 28-year drought.
The Cowboys’ offense took a turn for the worse in 2024, specifically at tight end, as Jake Ferguson failed to continue his upward trajectory.
With Brian Schottenheimer at the helm, Dak Prescott aging, and Tight Ends coach Lunda Wells returning, nothing should be off the table offensively with the 12th pick. That includes considering the top tight ends in the draft class.
For the Cowboys to consider a tight end this high in a draft, the prospect has to transcend the position. Penn State’s Tyler Warren does that.
An All-American and Mackey Award winner in 2024, this Nittany Lion lit college football on fire with his versatility, energy, and outright play-making. We’re talking about a guy who went from 34 catches in 2023 to 104 this past season.
Warren parlayed that catch increase to a staggering 1,233 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Oh, and did I mention this 6’6″, 256-lb star rushed for over 200 yards?
His size, personality, and statistics (8.4 yards per carry and 77.1 receiving yards per game) make this kid one of the most fascinating draft prospects I have ever encountered. He is far from the traditional tight end.
Tyler Warren: TE1 in the 2025 Rookie Class
➖104 Receptions
➖1,233 Yards
➖8 TD’sNotable Information:
➖2.8% Drop Rate (135 Targets)
➖61.9% Contested Catch Rate (21 Targets)Dude has absurd hands, excels as a blocker, dominates in contested catches, and he’s 6’6, 257 lbs.. pic.twitter.com/NOFjQbAuIB
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) January 15, 2025
This is an elite draft prospect with sky-high potential, and his draft stock reflects that.
He is currently expected to be drafted inside the top-10, with the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears coming in as the favorites.
That said, all three of those teams could pass on him. The Jets could lock in on the offensive line, the Saints have strong interest in Shedeur Sanders, and the Bears love Ashton Jeanty. If all of that happens, this Cowboys draft class may start with Warren.
It could upset the fanbase, and potentially rattle Ferguson’s feathers, but the best-player-available strategy only works if you actually stick to it.
Speaking of moves the Dallas faithful might hate, let’s talk about trading down.
The Cowboys are in a bind: they don’t have nearly...
