Mock Draft 1.0: Dallas Cowboys grab All-American receiver, physical corner in first 2 rounds
The NFL Draft is just over one month away, as free agency is beginning to shape what each team could be searching for early on draft weekend in Green Bay.
The Cowboys have fulfilled some big depth needs, but will need to find starting caliber talent early in the draft that can contribute as early as this upcoming season.
With Senior Bowl, combine performances and the majority of free agency now factored in, a look at how the first two rounds of the draft could shake out:
FIRST ROUND
1. Tennessee Titans - DE Abdul Carter (Penn State)
Despite a concern about a stress fracture in his foot that was revealed during the combine, Abdul Carter still comes off the board first for a Titans defense that badly needs a game-changing presence up front.
2. Cleveland Browns - CB/WR Travis Hunter (Colorado)
The Browns have signed Kenny Pickett and are pursuing Russell Wilson with DeShaun Watson still under contract, so quarterback might not be in their plans. They get arguably the most polarizing player in the class to pump some life into a franchise in need of it.
3. New York Giants - QB Cam Ward (Miami)
The Giants could end up landing Aaron Rodgers on the open market, but it shouldn’t stop them from planning for the future. Cam Ward is the most talented passer in the class and can be an immediate impact if the Giants don’t end up landing a veteran.
4. New England Patriots - OL Will Campbell (LSU)
The Patriots are in need of an overhaul on the offensive line to protect their young quarterback in Drake Maye, and Will Campbell can provide help at either tackle or guard. For New England, he would best fit at the left tackle spot.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - DT Mason Graham (Michigan)
The Jaguars were busy in free agency filling some holes on both sides of the ball, but defensive tackle still remains a spot that needs help. Mason Graham comes in with the ability to play at either defensive tackle spot and the potential to start on day one.
6. Las Vegas Raiders - RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
Trading for Geno Smith lessened the possibility of the Raiders grabbing a quarterback at No. 6, but you can bet that Pete Carroll will want a home run hitter at running back after a lifeless 2024 season in Las Vegas at the position. There’s no player better to provide just that than Ashton Jeanty.
7. New York Jets - TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)
Justin Fields is back in a situation where he’s the starting quarterback, and the Jets will need to place a couple of more weapons around him to succeed. Tyler Warren arrives as a former quarterback himself with the athleticism and playmaking ability to be a star for Fields early on.
8. Carolina Panthers - LB/DE Jalon Walker (Georgia)
Defending the pass was a rare strength for the Panthers last season, as their secondary stars are back in free agency. Getting better up front should be the priority now, and Jalon Walker provides help in the run game and in the pass rush department that Carolina needed last season.
9. New Orleans Saints - QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
Derek Carr is only getting older, and an opportunity to grab a polarizing figure like Shedeur Sanders to put him in a Kellen Moore offense in the city of New Orleans is too good to pass up. Sanders can marinate for a bit until Carr’s leash runs out.
10. Chicago Bears - OT Armand Membou (Missouri)
No one was as aggressive in free agency for offensive line talent than the Chicago Bears, and it’s for good reason after Caleb Williams took the most sacks of any quarterback in his rookie season. Armand Membou is the final piece that Chicago can place at left tackle to protect their franchise star in his new Ben Johnson offense.
11. San Francisco 49ers - CB Will Johnson (Michigan)
Preparing to pay Brock Purdy a massive contract forced some key free agents to depart San Francisco, including multiple starters in the secondary. The 49ers fill one of those holes with Will Johnson, who despite some injury concerns from 2024 can still end up being a perennial All-Pro talent.
12. Dallas Cowboys - WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)
The athleticism and playmaking of Tetairoa McMillan jumps off the charts (literally), and it’s the exact type of playmaker that the Cowboys will be searching for to pair with CeeDee Lamb. While adding help at running back or defensive end could also be a possibility, I don’t see Brian Schottenheimer passing on an opportunity to elevate his passing game with a talent like McMillan still on the board.
13. Miami Dolphins - S Malaki Starks (Georgia)
Jevon Holland departed in free agency and signed a massive deal with the New York Giants. The Dolphins immediately get his replacement with the best safety in the class.
14. Indianapolis Colts - CB Jahdae Barron (Texas)
Signing Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum were big additions for the Colts’ secondary, but they will need some more help entering the draft. Barron is the most versatile defensive back in the draft and could help on day one in multiple spots for Indianapolis.
15. Atlanta Falcons - DE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)
The Falcons were downright pitiful in getting to the quarterback last year, and you can bet top dollar that they will be adding talent in that area early in the draft. Stewart may not have the sack numbers from his time at Texas A&M, but his size, athleticism and pressure numbers typically translate to the NFL on a more consistent basis than not.
16. Arizona Cardinals - DT Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
Help in the interior of the defensive line is badly needed for the Cardinals, and Kenneth Grant is an athletic freak that can fill gaps and get to the quarterback.
17. Cincinnati Bengals - DE Mykel Williams (Georgia)
If the Bengals do indeed make a poor decision and ship out All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, replacing him with Mykel Williams would make a lot of sense. Williams has the similar size and pass rush motor that made Hendrickson such a dominant player in Cincinnati.
18. Seattle Seahawks - G Tyler Booker (Alabama)
The best true interior offensive lineman in the draft in Tyler Booker could be tasked with protecting Seattle’s newest mid-tier investment at quarterback in Sam Darnold. Getting a difference maker at receiver could also be in play after the Seahawks traded D.K. Metcalf and let Tyler Lockett walk this offseason.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)
This feels like one of the safer predictions in the first round. Tampa Bay needs to get younger at linebacker and Jihaad Campbell can play in multiple spots until the veterans age out.
20. Denver Broncos - WR Matthew Golden (Texas)
Last season showed that the Broncos were a lot closer to being an AFC contender than we all thought, and with a running mate at receiver for Courtland Sutton in a guy like Matthew Golden, Bo Nix could build on his strong rookie campaign with a multitude of weapons.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)
Unless Aaron Rodgers signs with Pittsburgh or Russell Wilson stumbles his way back through the door, the Steelers will be quarterback hunting early in the draft. Jaxson Dart has impressed scouts around the league during the draft process and has worked his way into the first-round conversation.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - OL Kelvin Banks (Texas)
The Chargers are set at tackle with Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but they could use some help in the interior. Most scouts project Kelvin Banks, who played all three seasons at Texas at left tackle, as a guard at the NFL level. He’d be a dominant force at left guard with Slater on his left hip.
23. Green Bay Packers - DT Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
Most of the free agency cycle saw the Packers make some moves in the secondary, and more are expected in the future with a potential dealing of Jaire Alexander. Next up will be adding some talent to their defensive front, and Derrick Harmon provides some sneaky athleticism out of the interior.
24. Minnesota Vikings - CB Shavon Revel (East Carolina)
No team in the league loves long, tall corners quite like Minnesota, and despite missing the majority of his senior season with a torn ACL, Shavon Revel is the best one in the draft that fits that mold. Stephon Gilmore was merely a placeholder for Minnesota at the position. Now, Revel can step in.
25. Houston Texans - T Josh Simmons (Ohio State)
The Texans shockingly dealt Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green this offseason, and they will need to put some new pieces on that offensive line. Simmons is one of the most complete, clean tackles in the class, but injury concerns from 2024 may see him still on the board when Houston is up.
26. Los Angeles Rams - DE James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee)
While character concerns around James Pearce Jr. have gotten loud during the draft process, he’s still a first round talent. The Rams have retooled their defensive line in recent years, making it one of the youngest but dangerous groups in the league. Pearce can be another feather in the cap, if he works out. If he doesn’t, they are still just fine.
27. Baltimore Ravens - DE Mike Green (Marshall)
Speaking of dangerous pass rushers, there was no defensive lineman that was more feared at the Senior Bowl than Mike Green. While he doesn’t have the prototypical length of an NFL pass rusher, his athleticism and bend explode off the edge for eye-popping plays in the backfield.
28. Detroit Lions - DE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)
A run on defensive ends comes late in the first round, as the Lions get in on the action after seeing so many injuries at the position last season by drafting an All-American in Donovan Ezeiruaku who finished with 16.5 sacks last season in just 12 games.
29. Washington Commanders - S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)
Dan Quinn once drafted a long, lengthy safety out of Oregon State in Israel Mukuamu when he was defensive coordinator for the Cowboys in 2021. This has similar vibes for a Washington team that needs some length on the backend.
30. Buffalo Bills - DT Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
Adding Joey Bosa is a big boost to an aging defensive line, and Walter Nolen could bring some more juice out of the interior with his motor and upper body strength.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - OL Grey Zabel (North Dakota State)
The Eagles exposed some major holes on the Chiefs offensive line in the Super Bowl that were lying beneath the surface, and Grey Zabel could step in and start at multiple spots at best, or provide legitimate competition to elevate the protection unit as a whole at worst.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Luther Burden (Missouri)
How do you make the best offense in the NFL better? Give it another weapon! Luther Burden could be a versatile chesspiece for Philadelphia that could open up even more for the entire array of weaponry in Philadelphia.
SECOND ROUND
33. Cleveland Browns - RB Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
34. New York Giants - OL Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
35. Tennessee Titans - OL Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon)
36. Jacksonville Jaguars - TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)
37. Las Vegas Raiders - WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
38. New England Patriots - RB Treveyon Henderson (Ohio State)
39. Chicago Bears - RB Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
40. New Orleans Saints - DT Darius Alexander (Toledo)
41. Chicago Bears - DE Nic Scourton (Texas A&M)
42. New York Jets - CB Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky)
43. San Francisco 49ers - DT T.J. Sanders (South Carolina)
44. Dallas Cowboys - CB Trey Amos (Ole Miss)
45. Indianapolis Colts - LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA)
46. Atlanta Falcons - DT Shemar Turner (Texas A&M)
47. Arizona Cardinals - OT Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota)
48. Miami Dolphins - S Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)
49. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Tyleik Williams (Ohio State)
50. Seattle Seahawks - WR Jayden Higgins (Iowa State)
51. Denver Broncos - RB Kalen Johnson (Iowa)
52. Seattle Seahawks - OL Marcus Mbow (Purdue)
53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DE Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss)
54. Green Bay Packers - CB Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State)
55. Los Angeles Chargers - TE Elijah Arroyo (Miami)
56. Buffalo Bills - CB Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)
57. Carolina Panthers - DT Alfred Collins (Texas)
58. Houston Texans - DT Omarr Norman-Lott (Tennessee)
59. Baltimore Ravens - OT Cameron Williams (Texas)
60. Detroit Lions - OL Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)
61. Washington Commanders - DE Landon Jackson (Arkansas)
62. Buffalo Bills - WR Xavier Restrepo (Miami)
63. Kansas City Chiefs - DE JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State)
64. Philadelphia Eagles - DL Jordan Burch (Oregon)
This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 11:24 AM.
