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The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys.
Risk isn’t the Cowboys’ philosophy in free agency, but the draft is a different story.
Now that it’s Top 30 visits season around the NFL, we’re getting a good idea of what positions Dallas wishes to address at the end of the month. Of the 16 reported visits so far, two of them are DT Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) and DL Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M).
These two players have three things in common:
They both play defensive line. They’re both projected first rounders. They’re both on Valentino’s list of five riskiest prospects of the 2025 NFL Draft.
DT Walter Nolen
Why he’s risky: There are moments when watching Walter Nolen on the field brings to mind the dominance of Gerald McCoy or Aaron Donald. At 296 pounds, his speed and agility are striking, often making him appear smaller as he changes directions with an unusual quickness. Teams are banking on these standout traits.
In 2024, Nolen’s performance surged compared to previous years, marked by a significant increase in advanced statistics. His quarterback hurries tripled, and he surpassed his previous best in run stops. However, there remains some skepticism within the league regarding Nolen’s consistency and his drive to achieve his full potential
DL Shemar Stewart
Why he’s risky: Shemar Stewart is an exceptional athlete, becoming one of only three edge rushers in the past 25 years, alongside Myles Garrett and Mario Williams, to run a sub-4.7 40-yard dash, jump at least 40 inches, and achieve a broad jump of at least 117 inches. With an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, there’s a strong case for him to be a top-five pick in any draft class.
The issue with Stewart isn’t his athleticism; rather, it’s his on-field production. With only 4.5 career sacks and somewhat average pressure statistics over his three years in college, he hasn’t fully utilized his physical abilities during games. His pressure numbers are decent, but a missed tackle rate of 23.5% in 2024 raises concerns.
Dallas made a move in free agency to help secure depth on the offensive line.
The Cowboys are continuing to add depth on the offensive line, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with offensive guard Saahdiq Charles on Wednesday.
Charles, 25, signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans in March of 2024, but unexpectedly retired a few days after the start of training camp for personal reasons. On March 12, he announced that he would be coming out of retirement, and the Titans released him to be a free agent once he was reinstated.
Before he retired, Charles was expected to...
