Inside The Star
In his final two-round mock draft for the 2025 NFL Draft, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projected that the Dallas Cowboys would select a running back who has been linked to them in the first round and a cornerback who hasn’t in the second round.
These selections reflect Kiper’s assessment of the Cowboys’ roster needs and his evaluation of the players’ talents.
Kiper’s picks for the Cowboys at 12th and 44th overall are positions of need, but fans and even other draft experts might take exception to the players taken and the round in which the positions were addressed.
RB Omarion Hampton, University of North Carolina
Kiper projects the Cowboys to select RB Omarion Hampton with the 12th overall pick.
This is Kiper’s third consecutive mock draft in which he projects Hampton to the Cowboys in the first round.
Hampton is recognized as a dynamic and powerful running back, noted for his ability to break tackles and accelerate through defenses.
In the 2024 season, he amassed 1,660 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, showcasing his capability as a workhorse back.
The rationale behind this selection is rooted in the Cowboys’ offensive strategy and roster composition.
With the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as head coach, known for favoring a run-heavy offensive approach similar to his father Marty’s coaching philosophy, the Cowboys appear poised to emphasize their ground game.
Additionally, the team’s leading rusher from the previous season, Rico Dowdle, left for Carolina, creating a void in the backfield.
By drafting Hampton, the Cowboys would secure a young, explosive talent to rejuvenate their rushing attack and provide balance to their offense.
CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss
In the second round, Kiper predicts that the Cowboys will address their secondary by selecting cornerback Trey Amos.
Amos is praised for his exceptional speed, agility, and ball-hawking skills, making him a formidable presence in pass coverage.
His performance at Ole Miss demonstrated his ability to match up against top-tier receivers, contributing significantly to one of the nation’s most formidable defenses.
The selection of Amos aligns with the Cowboys’ need to bolster their defensive backfield.
The team faced challenges in pass defense during the previous season, highlighting the necessity for an infusion of talent at the cornerback position.
Amos’s skill set would provide the Cowboys with a versatile defender capable of enhancing their coverage schemes and creating turnovers, thereby strengthening the overall defense.
By targeting Omarion Hampton and Trey Amos in the early rounds of the draft, Mel Kiper Jr. envisions the Dallas Cowboys addressing critical needs on both sides of the ball.
These selections are designed to enhance the team’s competitiveness and align with the strategic direction under the new coaching regime.
However, questions will be raised about addressing the running back position with such a high pick, especially considering Kiper left several viable wide receivers on the board that the Cowboys could have selected.
The Amos pick in the second round can...
