The Importance of Draft-Day Depth
FRISCO, Texas – Back in 1984, Wendy’s ran a memorable commercial with the tagline, “Where’s the beef?”
Now, as the Dallas Cowboys gear up for the 2025 NFL Draft, they might be asking, “Where’s the depth?”
Naturally, most fans are focused on what the Cowboys will do with the 12th overall pick on April 24, when the draft kicks off in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The event will be held at a newly constructed Draft Theater outside Lambeau Field. Hopefully, there’ll be some heating for that late-April chill.
We’re already well aware of the Cowboys’ pressing needs, which remain largely the same—even after adding 11 new players via free agency or trade and re-signing six of their own free agents, plus two restricted and three exclusive-rights players.
In no specific order, those needs include wide receiver, cornerback, running back, both interior and edge defensive line, linebacker, and offensive line. That pretty much sums it up, right?
The dilemma at pick No. 12—matching their highest since selecting Micah Parsons in 2021 and trailing only Ezekiel Elliott’s No. 4 spot in 2016—brings complexity.
It’s common to hear that teams picking outside the top 10 should stick to BPA—Best Player Available—regardless of need. But when you’ve got holes across the board, like the Cowboys, the draft’s positional depth becomes a major factor.
That’s where evaluating the draft’s strongest position groups matters. If, for instance, you can find plenty of high-caliber players at a position later in the draft, but fewer at another spot, that could influence your first-round direction.
COO and co-owner Stephen Jones spoke on this topic at last week’s NFL Meetings, saying:
“There’s definitely some depth this year—especially on the defensive line, both inside and out. We really like the running back class too, which stands out compared to recent years. There’s great potential to grab a quality back.”
Let’s look at how that might affect their top three picks—Nos. 12, 44, and 76. Dane Brugler’s “The Beast” ranks 10 defensive tackles in the top 76, 10 edge rushers in the top 52, five running backs in the top 60, six corners in the top 51, and six receivers in the top 44.
So, the Cowboys are balancing options between those first three rounds. If Brugler’s board holds true, grabbing a defensive tackle in the third round or an edge rusher in the second seems viable. Same for running backs. Cornerbacks and receivers, though, are more limited in early-round depth.
So, making the right first-round choice means understanding where the talent pool stays deep into later rounds.
“Where’s the depth?” Definitely a relevant question.
Asterisk Note: Some buzz has formed around the Cowboys acquiring Joe Milton III from the Patriots for a fifth-rounder. Milton completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and a 111.4 QB rating in his lone game last season. Impressive? Maybe. But context matters. That win came in a game Buffalo had no interest in winning. Drake Maye started, played three snaps, and exited after a sack. Key Bills defenders like Von Miller, Ed Oliver, and Matt Milano either barely played or sat out entirely. So, yeah—let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Birthday Cheers: CeeDee Lamb celebrated his 26th birthday on Tuesday. The Cowboys’ 2021 first-rounder already ranks fourth all-time in receiving yards by age 25 (5,145). Only Justin Jefferson (5,899), Ja’Marr Chase (5,425), and Randy Moss (5,396) had more in their first four years. Not a bad crowd to be part of.
Sleeper Cornerback: He may not be a first-rounder, but don’t sleep on East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr., ranked sixth at his position in the 2025 Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine Draft Guide. After transferring from Louisburg Junior College, Revel played just three games in 2023 due to a torn ACL. Cowboys team surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper did his surgery. The 6-2, 194-pound corner clocked a 4.4 in the 40, had a 39-inch vertical, and an 11-foot broad jump—after working night shifts at Amazon. That athleticism and resilience make him a potential Day 2 steal despite the injury.
Other Sanders: Much attention is on Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and dad Deion. But don’t forget Shilo Sanders, a safety who may go late or undrafted. On the 365 Sports podcast, Shilo joked about his dad’s claim of running a 4.2 forty “for breakfast.” Shilo admitted he’d never seen proof and laughed that Deion never trained—though track at Florida State was likely the secret sauce. Fun moment as the younger Sanders shared stories and gave his legendary father a playful jab.
Additional Notes: Dallas continues their search for cost-effective depth, signing Shaahdiq Charles, a former Washington starter who retired last year unexpectedly after earning a starting spot with the Titans. Worth a look at guard/tackle. Also, when Trey Lance inked a one-year deal with the Chargers, some reported a value of “up to” $6.2 million. In reality, it’s $2.045 million—closer to the mark for a third-string QB. Meanwhile, 2021 third-rounder Nahshon Wright, traded to Minnesota and placed on their practice squad, has been released. Andrew Booth remains tenuously on Dallas’s offseason roster. And Texas DT Alfred Collins, recovering from a calf strain and missing Pro Day, reportedly has visits scheduled with the Cowboys and Texans.
Though the Cowboys now have two healthy quarterbacks with Milton in the mix, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer remains closely tuned in to potential rookie QBs. He scouted Ohio State’s Will Howard and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and is keeping tabs on veteran free agents as well.
Schottenheimer offered this parting thought from the NFL Meetings:
“What I love about scouting quarterbacks is that it comes down to the film. Back in 2004 with the Chargers, when we had the top pick and were weighing Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Roethlisberger, we did all the private workouts. After we drafted Rivers, I asked him how his Pro Day went. He said, ‘Killed it.’ Told me he could’ve done it blindfolded. He said it’s so rehearsed—slants, hitches, back-shoulders—you know exactly what’s coming.
“That’s why I believe it’s more about what’s on film and who the guy is as a leader.”