Dallas Cowboys select Boston College DE Donovan Ezeiruaku with second-round pick
With their second selection of the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Boston College defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku with the No. 44 overall pick.
“Overjoyed, ecstatic and blessed,” Ezeiruaku said about the moment. “That’s going through my mind right now. It was a surprise, honestly. I wasn’t expected it, but I’m happy that I got that phone call.”
Ezeiruaku, an AP first-team All-American in 2024, posted 16.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss last season cementing himself as one of the top pass rushers in the draft class. Cowboys quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko coached at Boston College from 2022-2024 when he departed for a spot in Dallas, giving the Cowboys a leg up on scouting the player.
“He had to block him every day,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones joked in Friday’s press conference.
Growing up in New Jersey, the newest Cowboy said he grew up rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles, but the allegiance in the Ezeiruaku household quickly shifted after his selection.
“I’m here right now celebrating with my family, and we’re at a country club and there’s some people from my hometown that are here,” he said. “They actually have Eagles gear on. I said to go ahead and take that off right now.”
An elite pass rusher who also had an adept ability at forcing fumbles for Boston College last season, Ezeiruaku surprisingly takes the most pride in his ability to stop the run.
“I take a whole lot of pride in it,” he said. “That’s something that I understand that you cannot get the pass rush going until you stop the run on first and second down. I played for a tough d-line coach at Boston College, who also took a lot of great care in that run game.”
“We need to stop the run. We got to put our nose in there and take on blocks and strike blockers just to get to that ball on first and second down.”
Ezeiruaku joined Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker as the two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft for the Cowboys before the selection of East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. in the third round. Despite pressing needs at wide receiver, running back and defensive tackle, the Cowboys will head into day three without any of those positions addressed.
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM.
