Blogging The Boys
What would you say is the biggest need on the Cowboys entering the draft?
After about a month of free agency, the Dallas Cowboys are now focusing on the 2025 NFL Draft. The crowning jewel of every offseason, the draft will shape the remainder of whatever other signings or trades the team might make between now and September. Before this flurry of player acquisition, let’s take a look at the Cowboys’ updated roster needs.
Dallas hasn’t been sitting on its hands. The Cowboys signed eight new free agents, re-signed eight others from last year, and traded for three players. That outweighs the team’s fourteen departures thus far: eight players who have already signed with new teams, five who remain free agents, and one retired legend named Zack Martin.
Still, Dallas has some big needs going into this draft. Their offseason moves didn’t fully address certain departures like WR Brandin Cooks or CB Jourdan Lewis, nor have they sufficiently covered losses like RB Rico Dowdle or the lingering injury concerns at cornerback with Trevon Diggs and Josh Butler.
So, from least to greatest, how do we rank the Cowboys’ needs with about a week to go until the draft?
The Cowboys have often looked outside the draft to deal with special teams openings, but there have been some exceptions through the years. 2025 won’t be one of them as Dallas boasts the league’s best return man and arguably its best kicker, plus two proficient veterans at punter and long snapper. They have already done their work by re-signing all of KaVontae Turpin, Bryan Anger, and Trent Sieg, and they will enjoy one more year of Brandon Aubrey at a huge discount. While special teams work may drive some late-round and UDFA decisions, the key positions are nicely covered.
After re-signing prospects Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell, plus retaining Donovan Wilson despite some cap casualty speculation, Dallas seems set at safety. They have their core four with these three and Malik Hooker, plus a versatile depth option in Israel Mukuamu. That’s not to say they shouldn’t think twice if they have a chance at an elite draft prospect like Malaki Starks or Nick Emmanwori; upgrades are certainly worth considering. But in terms of need, the position is already stocked with two veteran starters and perhaps two future ones.
The Cowboys already picked up their next developmental project when they swapped late-round picks with the Patriots for Joe Milton. He’s essentially their draft pick for this cycle and, paired with Will Grier, gives Dallas its likely depth behind Dak Prescott for 2025. If the Cowboys do add more QB talent, it will likely be a post-draft signing of another veteran to challenge Grier.
Between the hope for a Jake Ferguson bounce-back and the potential third-year leap for Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas could understandably stand pat. They even have some solid depth with Brevyn Spann-Ford, Princeton Fant, and the new “if...
