Cowboys Set for Crucial Draft Stretch with Flexibility and Strategy in Hand

With the NFL Draft just around the corner, the Dallas Cowboys are entering the most pivotal stretch of their offseason. Armed with 10 total picks — including selections in every round except the fourth — the Cowboys have the draft capital to reshape their roster. While the later rounds offer value, it’s their top three picks (No. 12, No. 44, and No. 76) that will ultimately define how successful this draft will be.

Although free agency isn’t officially over, the Cowboys believe their offseason approach has already laid a solid foundation. They’ve filled several gaps across the roster, acquiring defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr., defensive end Payton Turner, running backs Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams, linebacker Jack Sanborn, guard Robert Jones, and wide receiver Parris Campbell. Dallas also swung trades for linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., cornerback Kaiir Elam, and quarterback Joe Milton III.

Thanks to those moves, the Cowboys head into the draft without any glaring holes — a luxury that allows them to focus on value over need.

"Part of what we do in free agency is to give ourselves flexibility," said executive VP Stephen Jones. "Ideally, there’s a great player at every pick, and we’re not locked into a specific position."

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer echoed that sentiment, mentioning the team plans to stick to a “best player available” mindset — but with a clear focus on game-changers.

“We don’t want to be picking at No. 12 again,” Schottenheimer admitted. “So we’re looking for players who impact the game — guys who sack the quarterback, force turnovers, score touchdowns, dominate one-on-one matchups. Corners, receivers, pass rushers, tackles — those are game influencers.”

While Schottenheimer values trench play — emphasizing physicality and controlling both lines of scrimmage — Dallas could go in several directions with their first pick. Potential options at No. 12 include:

• RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) – Arguably the best running back in the class

• WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), Matthew Golden (Texas), or Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) – All bring explosiveness to the offense

• CB Will Johnson (Michigan) – A top-tier corner with shutdown potential

• OL Will Campbell (LSU) or DL Kenneth Grant (Michigan) – Both bring much-needed size and strength in the trenches

Owner Jerry Jones believes this year’s draft aligns well with the team’s current needs.

“This draft gives us flexibility,” Jones said. “We’ve seen before how it can play out unexpectedly — like landing CeeDee Lamb at 17 or Micah Parsons at 12. You just have to be ready for anything.”

Though Dallas has addressed many positions, some areas still need fortifying. They’re still looking for a true No. 2 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb. The running back room, while bolstered by Sanders and Williams, could still use more youth and upside. Cornerback remains a concern with Jourdan Lewis departing and Trevon Diggs recovering from another major knee injury. And while the Cowboys have a solid track record of drafting offensive linemen, their 2024 first-rounder Tyler Guyton still has development ahead.

Despite these questions, Jerry Jones is confident in how the draft board lines up.

“There’s depth where we need it. You can always elevate your roster, and I like the numbers at positions that are important to us,” he said.

With a flexible approach, plenty of capital, and a roster that’s closer to complete than it was just weeks ago, the Cowboys have positioned themselves to make an impact — both early and late — in this year’s draft.