With the countdown to the NFL Draft continuing to tick down, the Dallas Cowboys’ war room is preparing their final strategies for when they’re on the clock Thursday night. The team remained competitive last season despite losing Dak Prescott midway through the year, and with an infusion of young talent, they could potentially get rack back into the mix among the NFC East.
With the 12th pick in the first round, America’s Team has the opportunity to add a major contributor. Who will they select? Find out in this Cowboys draft prediction.
Team Needs
Wide Receiver: The Cowboys need to remedy a serious lack of talent at their secondary WR slots. CeeDee Lamb is incredible, but Jalen Tolbert just doesn’t cut it as WR2 for a team with playoff aspirations. The offense becomes too predictable without another top target to spread the ball around to. There’s a couple of big-time names at this draft class’s position group with a chance to become Lamb’s running mate. No matter who the pick becomes, adding playmakers to this offense is imperative.
Offensive Line: Legendary lineman Zack Martin walked away from the sport over the offseason, which leaves a massive hole to fill at right guard. The rest of the O-line group are mostly on the younger side, too, so adding a top talent in a stacked first round could appeal to Dallas’ decision-makers. There’s plenty of starting-caliber trench players available in this class to choose from, and Prescott has quietly been a tad injury-prone over the last couple of seasons. With his still-shiny new contract, Dallas must protect their largest investment.
Defensive Line: The Cowboys’ fatal flaw lately remains their inability to stuff the run. Their rush defense ranked bottom-five last season, and while the front office added some veterans during free agency, a real stud contributor would make a major difference for this unit. Whether it’s a beefy defensive tackle or a two-way edge player, the defensive trenches require some backup while sharing a division with Saquon Barkley.
Betting Odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the the Cowboys are favored at -250 odds to select a wide receiver in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The next-closest position is offensive line at +425 odds, so there’s a clear gap between these two betting options. Defensive line/EDGE actually ranks fourth in betting odds at +1100.
The position holding the third-best odds for Dallas is actually running back. The Cowboys have shown a willingness to draft a halfback with an early selection before, having selected Ezekiel Elliot fourth overall back in 2017. However, the game has changed since then and the position is less valuable than ever. While Boise State product Ashton Jeanty is going to have a fantastic career, selecting an RB with a premium pick would be the wrong move for a team with more important holes to fill. Yes, the Cowboys need talent at the position, but they can find it later in this extremely deep halfback class.
Potential Picks
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas: This speedy wideout’s quickness doesn’t exactly pop off the screen when watching his game tape, but Golden is clearly a nice route runner and makes plays after the catch. He tallied 987 yards and nine touchdowns on just 58 catches for the Longhorns and emerged as a reliable option on third down. With a 4.29 40-yard dash, Golden shot up draft boards and might be a top choice to remain in the Lone Star State.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona: In contrast to Golden, McMillan brings plenty of punch with his 6-foot-4 frame but lacks elite top-end speed. He makes up for it with talent at the catch point and earned multiple All-American selections in his time with Arizona. McMillan became the school’s all-time leading receiver and tallied 1,319 yards and eight scores on 84 catches last season. He’d provide a physical complimentary option in contrast to Lamb’s route-running and speed.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State: Rounding out this list of wideout options is a steady contributor for the Buckeyes. Egbuka isn’t getting the same top-of-round hype as his peers, but he’s just as deserving. He’s a better route runner than either of Golden or McMillan and follows a long line of productive Ohio State receivers (and became the school’s all-time catches leader). He’s a very reliable option and might be the pick if those other guys are already off the board when Dallas picks.
