Who do draft experts have the Dallas Cowboys picking in first round of NFL Draft?
The NFL offseason is in full swing and the Dallas Cowboys, who have a new head coach, are focusing on attracting and retaining key free agents and looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys have the No. 12 selectionin the first round of the draft, scheduled April 25-27, 2025. Who do experts predict Dallas will pick?
Mel Kiper, ESPN
Selection: UNC RB Omarion Hampton
I’ve talked to people in the NFL who have Jeanty and Hampton neck and neck for RB1, and there are even some who prefer Hampton. And I look at Dallas’ decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer as coach and can’t help but think about his father, Marty, and all those run-heavy offenses he had over 21 seasons in the same job for four different teams. One would think some of that will rub off on the Cowboys’ new coach, even with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb in the offense.
Staff, The Athletic
Selection: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty, who went to high school in the Metroplex area, gets to come home and be the future face of the franchise as the NFL’s running back revolution continues. Jerry Jones tends to lean toward star power if given the opportunity, and the Boise State star was the most electrifying running back in college football a year ago, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race. Jeanty brings his unique combination of battering-ram capabilities and breakaway speed to JerryWorld.
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Selection: Missouri OL Armand Membou
The retirement of Zack Martin could prompt Dallas to address the offensive line with a top pick. Membou is a bully at the point of attack who could help Brian Schottenheimer get the Cowboys back to their roots as a ground-and-pound squad.
Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated
Selection: Missouri WR Luther Burden III
Dallas has a glaring need opposite CeeDee Lamb. Brandin Cooks is a free agent, and Dallas lacks depth with Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy and Jonathan Mingo failing to consistently produce. Burden is the best receiver available and a YAC threat, leading the nation in missed tackles forced (30).
Staff, Pro Football Network
Selection: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
Ashton Jeanty becoming a Dallas Cowboy is consistently one of my favorite projected draft picks this cycle. Dallas was so bland and unexplosive offensively last year because they lacked weapons on offense. Jeanty is a home run threat who has the vision to explode behind a historically good offensive line.
Ian Valentino, The33rdteam.com
Selection: Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen
Walter Nolen emerged as a standout at the Senior Bowl, showcasing his impressive fluidity and explosiveness as a defensive tackle. While Graham may have the edge in run defense and consistency, Dallas could be an ideal destination for Nolen to reach his full potential.
This option is more enticing than selecting a sturdier presence and carries the potential for a game-changing impact similar to that of Gerald McCoy.
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
Selection: Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen
Nolen is a very twitchy disrupter and could replace Osa Odighizuwa if he departs in free agency.
Christian D’andrea, Yahoo Sports
Selection: Missouri OL Armand Membou
Warren has the ability to produce as both a receiver (79 yards per game) and runner (197 yards on 24 carries). In this case, he’d team with Jake Ferguson to give Dallas some juice in 12 personnel formations, flanking CeeDee Lamb with two tight ends and, at least in theory, making life a bit easier for Rico Dowdle next fall. This may not be the star for which the Cowboys hoped, he’d be a rising tide for an offense that desperately needs a lift.
Staff, Fox Sports
Selection: Penn State TE Tyler Warren
Everyone wants the Cowboys to draft Ashton Jeanty, as the Texas native seems like the perfect fit for a Dallas offense that had the sixth-lowest rush yards per game average in the league at 100.3. But while improving the run-game is a need for Dallas, the defense was abysmal last season — ranking second-to-last in scoring defense (27.5 points per game allowed) and fourth-to-last in rushing defense (137.1).
Dalton Wasserman, Pro Football Focus
Selection: Missouri OL Armand Membou
As tempting as Ashton Jeanty is, Dallas needs to improve the right side of its offensive line, given Zack Martin’s retirement and Terence Steele’s struggles in pass protection. Whether he plays tackle or guard, Membou offers improvement as one of just two FBS tackles ranked in the top 15 in PFF pass-blocking grade and PFF run-blocking grade.
