2025 Draft Class, things I liked, things I didn't!

Cowboyny

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My goal for this year's draft was to help the run defense and get more explosive on offense. Didn't accomplish this, but it doesn't mean it was a terrible draft either:

-Things I liked

Adding a legitimate #2 pass rusher. We haven't drafted a player this advanced as a pass rusher in years. To think the rush packages we can now put together is very intriguing.

Drafting a potential #1 CB. Yes, there is some risk taking a player coming off of an acl injury, but if healthy gives the team a lot of flexibility for the future. Keep in mind, Bland is a fa after the season. Don't care if he comes back slowly as we have him for 4 seasons.

Blue is a legitimate, explosive, homerun type of back. Has to get better protecting the football, but he potentially becomes our new Pollard/Felix Jones. When you watch him play, he give off Gibbs vibes to me, although not as talented. He also like that they paired him with a power back late. They are in good shape at the position with multiple options.

Drafted a true, massive run NT. I think he is better that that Kentucky NT we drafted late a few years back and might be that space eater we desperately need.

-Things I disliked

Using a top 15 pick on a Guard. This has nothing to do with the player, but they really to come away with a #2 receiver. I said for weeks, if they don't take one early, probably better off not taking one at all. Was there a huge hole at RG? Think they has some solid options and could of taken a Guard later.

Why trade up for a linebacker that has questionable instincts and lack of size? Our only hope is that Eberflus is good at developing the position. We has similar concerns with Marist last yr, but he played better then we originally thought.

Not a fan of the Right Tackle drafted, I guess you never have enough offensive lineman, especially at the tackle position.

Final Thoughts

I was expecting a 2-3 rebuild as all needs couldn't be addressed in one draft class. They potentially added 4 future starters, which in any draft class means that it was successful. Yes, we need another receiver, but a short-term solution can be found. Think next year, receiver remains a top need, with Safety, Linebacker and still more help inside the DL.

My early grade would be a C+ as they did land a few day 1 starters that should help, but didn't do enough to help their run defense and address the #2 WR position.
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That's definitely fair. I'd probably grade similar for different reasons.

Some really solid picks here, but I'm not seeing a significantly better team. Booker is a guard, Ez is a role player, Revel probably won't play, and Blue isn't a starter. I like each of these players, don't get me wrong. It's just not enough, unfortunately.

The things we were bad at -- run defense, stretching the defense -- probably haven't improved.
 
Something people are massively overlooking with the early guard pick is the unique situation we’re in.

Combo of Z Martin retiring, new coaching staff emphasizing smash mouth football, draft with low depth at OL, it was the correct pick.

Situations matter - forcing a WR pick (Golden) over interior OL pick makes this team look completely different & not matching the identity this franchise/coaching staff want which is pounding the rock.

Also look at our division/top teams in the NFL, all built thru the trenches. Great draft Dallas.
 
That's definitely fair. I'd probably grade similar for different reasons.

Some really solid picks here, but I'm not seeing a significantly better team. Booker is a guard, Ez is a role player, Revel probably won't play, and Blue isn't a starter. I like each of these players, don't get me wrong. It's just not enough, unfortunately.

The things we were bad at -- run defense, stretching the defense -- probably haven't improved.
Disagree about EZ he is a future starter.
 
My goal for this year's draft was to help the run defense and get more explosive on offense. Didn't accomplish this, but it doesn't mean it was a terrible draft either:

-Things I liked

Adding a legitimate #2 pass rusher. We haven't drafted a player this advanced as a pass rusher in years. To think the rush packages we can now put together is very intriguing.

Drafting a potential #1 CB. Yes, there is some risk taking a player coming off of an acl injury, but if healthy gives the team a lot of flexibility for the future. Keep in mind, Bland is a fa after the season. Don't care if he comes back slowly as we have him for 4 seasons.

Blue is a legitimate, explosive, homerun type of back. Has to get better protecting the football, but he potentially becomes our new Pollard/Felix Jones. When you watch him play, he give off Gibbs vibes to me, although not as talented. He also like that they paired him with a power back late. They are in good shape at the position with multiple options.

Drafted a true, massive run NT. I think he is better that that Kentucky NT we drafted late a few years back and might be that space eater we desperately need.

-Things I disliked

Using a top 15 pick on a Guard. This has nothing to do with the player, but they really to come away with a #2 receiver. I said for weeks, if they don't take one early, probably better off not taking one at all. Was there a huge hole at RG? Think they has some solid options and could of taken a Guard later.

Why trade up for a linebacker that has questionable instincts and lack of size? Our only hope is that Eberflus is good at developing the position. We has similar concerns with Marist last yr, but he played better then we originally thought.

Not a fan of the Right Tackle drafted, I guess you never have enough offensive lineman, especially at the tackle position.

Final Thoughts

I was expecting a 2-3 rebuild as all needs couldn't be addressed in one draft class. They potentially added 4 future starters, which in any draft class means that it was successful. Yes, we need another receiver, but a short-term solution can be found. Think next year, receiver remains a top need, with Safety, Linebacker and still more help inside the DL.

My early grade would be a C+ as they did land a few day 1 starters that should help, but didn't do enough to help their run defense and address the #2 WR position.
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Good post. I like day 2 but man we did nothing to help our run defense.
 
My goal for this year's draft was to help the run defense and get more explosive on offense. Didn't accomplish this, but it doesn't mean it was a terrible draft either:

-Things I liked

Adding a legitimate #2 pass rusher. We haven't drafted a player this advanced as a pass rusher in years. To think the rush packages we can now put together is very intriguing.

Drafting a potential #1 CB. Yes, there is some risk taking a player coming off of an acl injury, but if healthy gives the team a lot of flexibility for the future. Keep in mind, Bland is a fa after the season. Don't care if he comes back slowly as we have him for 4 seasons.

Blue is a legitimate, explosive, homerun type of back. Has to get better protecting the football, but he potentially becomes our new Pollard/Felix Jones. When you watch him play, he give off Gibbs vibes to me, although not as talented. He also like that they paired him with a power back late. They are in good shape at the position with multiple options.

Drafted a true, massive run NT. I think he is better that that Kentucky NT we drafted late a few years back and might be that space eater we desperately need.

-Things I disliked

Using a top 15 pick on a Guard. This has nothing to do with the player, but they really to come away with a #2 receiver. I said for weeks, if they don't take one early, probably better off not taking one at all. Was there a huge hole at RG? Think they has some solid options and could of taken a Guard later.

Why trade up for a linebacker that has questionable instincts and lack of size? Our only hope is that Eberflus is good at developing the position. We has similar concerns with Marist last yr, but he played better then we originally thought.

Not a fan of the Right Tackle drafted, I guess you never have enough offensive lineman, especially at the tackle position.

Final Thoughts

I was expecting a 2-3 rebuild as all needs couldn't be addressed in one draft class. They potentially added 4 future starters, which in any draft class means that it was successful. Yes, we need another receiver, but a short-term solution can be found. Think next year, receiver remains a top need, with Safety, Linebacker and still more help inside the DL.

My early grade would be a C+ as they did land a few day 1 starters that should help, but didn't do enough to help their run defense and address the #2 WR position.
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You realize that if we hit on THREE 7+ year starters then this is already a home run draft, right?
 
My goal for this year's draft was to help the run defense and get more explosive on offense. Didn't accomplish this, but it doesn't mean it was a terrible draft either:

-Things I liked

Adding a legitimate #2 pass rusher. We haven't drafted a player this advanced as a pass rusher in years. To think the rush packages we can now put together is very intriguing.

Drafting a potential #1 CB. Yes, there is some risk taking a player coming off of an acl injury, but if healthy gives the team a lot of flexibility for the future. Keep in mind, Bland is a fa after the season. Don't care if he comes back slowly as we have him for 4 seasons.

Blue is a legitimate, explosive, homerun type of back. Has to get better protecting the football, but he potentially becomes our new Pollard/Felix Jones. When you watch him play, he give off Gibbs vibes to me, although not as talented. He also like that they paired him with a power back late. They are in good shape at the position with multiple options.

Drafted a true, massive run NT. I think he is better that that Kentucky NT we drafted late a few years back and might be that space eater we desperately need.

-Things I disliked

Using a top 15 pick on a Guard. This has nothing to do with the player, but they really to come away with a #2 receiver. I said for weeks, if they don't take one early, probably better off not taking one at all. Was there a huge hole at RG? Think they has some solid options and could of taken a Guard later.

Why trade up for a linebacker that has questionable instincts and lack of size? Our only hope is that Eberflus is good at developing the position. We has similar concerns with Marist last yr, but he played better then we originally thought.

Not a fan of the Right Tackle drafted, I guess you never have enough offensive lineman, especially at the tackle position.

Final Thoughts

I was expecting a 2-3 rebuild as all needs couldn't be addressed in one draft class. They potentially added 4 future starters, which in any draft class means that it was successful. Yes, we need another receiver, but a short-term solution can be found. Think next year, receiver remains a top need, with Safety, Linebacker and still more help inside the DL.

My early grade would be a C+ as they did land a few day 1 starters that should help, but didn't do enough to help their run defense and address the #2 WR position.
.
We might have gotten Booker later I have no way of knowing.I'm passed caring about value if the player is what we need.We needed him.
I like your post
 
At first I didnt like taking a guard at 12 either, but if Dallas wants to be this big physical mauler group on the O-line who can run the ball well, then I cant fault them. We need to run more and see less of Prescott dropping back.

The LB in the 5th was terrible, and I thought there were much better options, especially if you are gonna trade up.

Overall, im pretty excited for this group.
 
The LB trade up was odd. I’d rather have seen a trade up to get someone like Riley Mills at DT than a small LB. Or Devin Neal at RB.

Other than that, not a ton of other issues.
 
Disagree on guard if it means reorganizing the lineup. Other than that, I agree.
Two offensive linemen and three defensive linemen with run defense in view.

A very talented cornerback and running back. Speed on offense was still highlighted.

The biggest element was the formation of a league top pair of offensive guards focused and able to both help out inside and outside as well. Stabelized offensive line and a top of NFL young group at that.
 
From what I’ve heard Tet was going to be our pick at 12 and Carolina screwed that up. We had a trade out with Houston but they low balled us. So they went BPA and Booker was him.
 
From what I’ve heard Tet was going to be our pick at 12 and Carolina screwed that up. We had a trade out with Houston but they low balled us. So they went BPA and Booker was him.
You were completely correct until the BPA line.
 
I've got similar reasoning on most of our picks (other than it wasn't WR I wanted at 12, Nolen was far and away the best player on the board imo) but I come out with a B+ grade. Booker is a C+, A for Ezeraku and A+ for Revel. Blue gets an A. After that the picks are less impactful but the Florida LB has a pretty low grade for me. The NT is a nice shot in the dark.

Overall I think we left our cupboard pretty bare at DT outside of Osa in a draft that was swimming with talent at the position, but we got really excellent day 2 value picks and the first rounder could still be a very good player.
 

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