AS: Cowboys' Jaydon Blue Shocking Draft Ranking Revealed

[exciter]

its a nice pick i think. We need a guy that is a threat to break a long one.

But this organization never stops annoying me. So he was their guy and worth a 4th rounder. Then why not trade up and get him? Rather than risking it .
They coulda found a trade partner. This after the fact babble IMO is them trying to make themselves look smart.

Because he was a 5th round pick!

 

[J12B]

I knew he was high on their board, but RB3?

It only says that there were multiple coaches who had him as RB3. Did not say that was the consensus.

 

[phildadon86]

There were several posters who argued with me over the past month, two or three about how Jaylon Blue was no where on the internet or teams' press clippings of having Jaydon Blue ranked any higher than a 4th round in value.

Well, I told them they were wrong. Told them Jaydon Blue was valued of being as high as a 2nd round value. This recent article just confirms it. Minimum of a Round 2 value and 3rd best RB overall in this year's 2025 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys front office and other coaches.

Just because the cowboys had him that high and the rest of the league didn’t doesn’t make you right at all.

Actually it’s the opposite.

They also had a second round grade on Mingo, and had Charlton graded higher than Watt.

Lol.

That’s on the off chance the cowboys are being truthful which they rarely are. I don’t see how any team or scouting department could have blue ranked above the likes of Judkins/Henderson, the kid from VT, or the Iowa state kid.

It’s nonsensical and if it’s true I’d argue some of the scouting dept should be fired.

 

[exciter]

Cowboys Jaydon Blue Shocking Draft Ranking Revealed​

- Athlon Sports

• May 3, 2025 10:27 AM EDT

The Dallas Cowboys waited until Day 3 of the NFL to land a running back, but their prospect rankings reveal they still drafted one of the best in the class.

The Blue pick has been well received by Cowboys Nation once it was made. It took until pick No. 149, but could have been sooner if Dallas traded into the fourth round to take him like they intended. Thankfully he was still available in the fifth.

According to the Cowboys' rankings going into the Draft, the scouting team believed Blue was up there with the top prospects in the running back class.

Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says there were multiple coaches who said Blue falls only behind Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina's Omarion Hampton as the best ball carriers available.

Third-best? That’s shocking …. But Dallas will take it.

Getting who they thought was the third best player at his position in the fifth round is as much a steal as the Cowboys could hope for. Frankly, they were lucky teams slept on Blue and kept him available until the fifth.

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/dallas...-ranking-revealed-as-minicamp-opens-longhorns

The fact that they may or may not have had him ranked higher ( wasn’t their a report Jundkins was aged a first) doesn’t change the fact that he’s a 5th round talent at best!

 

[CATCH17]

I hope he works out. Only offensive weapon they added this off season really because of his speed. I don't see how the offense will be better even with Dak fully healthy. All teams have to do is scheme out CeeDee and what's left? Turpin? Tolbert? I am sure other teams are shaking in their cleats.

We gotta get more weapons but improved blocking is going to give us a foundation.

Our division has game wreckers on the Dlines, especially D Tackles in our division.

Our interior OL should be much improved.

I think Steele bounces back and is 100% again.

Guyton is my concern but the talent is there.

 

[speedkilz88]

Did Nick Harris speak with multiple coaches at the NFL level, college level or just coaches who are not currently employed in the NFL? I ask the question (to no one in particular) because 2025 appears to be just another year where it seems there is zero communication between NFL front offices, coaches, scouts, etc., and the league's content providers for its own official site.

https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/p...e=1&sortField=gradeSort&sortIsAscending=false

Below are NFL.com's draft grades for all running backs picked above Jaydon Blue. Each are sorted by the players' assigned, pre-draft grade:

Grade description: 7.0-7.1, Pro Bowl talent

Player	College	Status	Team	Class	Grade
Ashton Jeanty	Boise State	Rnd 1, Pick 6	Las Vegas Raiders	Junior	7.15

Grade description: 6.30-6.39, Will eventually be plus starter

Player	College	Status	Team	Class	Grade
TreVeyon Henderson	Ohio State	Rnd 2, Pick 6	New England Patriots	Senior	6.38
Omarion Hampton	North Carolina	Rnd 1, Pick 22	Los Angeles Chargers	Junior	6.35
Dylan Sampson	Tennessee	Rnd 4, Pick 24	Cleveland Browns	Junior	6.33
Quinshon Judkins	Ohio State	Rnd 2, Pick 4	Cleveland Browns	Junior	6.3

Grade description: 6.20-6.29, Will eventually be average starter

Player	College	Status	Team	Class	Grade
Bhayshul Tuten	Virginia Tech	Rnd 4, Pick 2	Jacksonville Jaguars	Senior	6.29
Kaleb Johnson	Iowa	Rnd 3, Pick 19	Pittsburgh Steelers	Junior	6.21

Grade description: 6.10-6.19, Good backup with the potential to develop into starter

Player	College	Status	Team	Class	Grade
Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Arizona	Rnd 7, Pick 29	Washington Commanders	Senior	6.18
Jordan James	Oregon	Rnd 5, Pick 9	San Francisco 49ers	Junior	6.17
Cam Skattebo	Arizona State	Rnd 4, Pick 3	New York Giants	Senior	6.16
Trevor Etienne	Georgia	Rnd 4, Pick 12	Carolina Panthers	Junior	6.15
Woody Marks	USC	Rnd 4, Pick 14	Houston Texans	Senior	6.15
Jarquez Hunter	Auburn	Rnd 4, Pick 15	Los Angeles Rams	Senior	6.12
Jaydon Blue	Texas	Rnd 5, Pick 12	Dallas Cowboys	Junior	6.11

Seems the folks, who write for NFL.com, are equally clueless where Jaydon Blue and his peers would actually be drafted as everyone else outside the teams' inner circles. Seems like.

First, nfl.com media (Lance Zierlein and Chad Reuter) have zero to do with what actual nfl coaches think. From what Nick Harris said he talked to someone in the organization that said some Cowboys offensive coaches thougt he was their 3rd favorite. And as I mentioned before, it has more to do with his big play ability.

 

[jblaze2004]

Wow really over TreVeyon Henderson?

 

[Ranching]

There were several posters who argued with me over the past month, two or three about how Jaylon Blue was no where on the internet or teams' press clippings of having Jaydon Blue ranked any higher than a 4th round in value.

Well, I told them they were wrong. Told them Jaydon Blue was valued of being as high as a 2nd round value. This recent article just confirms it. Minimum of a Round 2 value and 3rd best RB overall in this year's 2025 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys front office and other coaches.

They weren't arguing, they were just sharing their thoughts...lol

 

[mmohican29]

Look. Wherever he was drafted:

**if we can get him a block or two @ the LOS, and in space with a reasonably clear path to the EndZone**

He's gone. Nobody is running this dude down from behind.

 

[dupree89]

They weren't arguing, they were just sharing their thoughts...lol

 

[DallasEast]

First, nfl.com media (Lance Zierlein and Chad Reuter) have zero to do with what actual nfl coaches think. From what Nick Harris said he talked to someone in the organization that said some Cowboys offensive coaches thougt he was their 3rd favorite. And as I mentioned before, it has more to do with his big play ability.

Thanks. First, you have underscored the basis of my questioning whether front offices speak with the content providers of the league's official site. My questioning is based on my personal assumption that a data gateway for any industry (in this case, the National Football League) would provide information reflective of said industry. The grades and where and when most players were actually drafted do not correlate.

In my opinion (and likely just my opinion), NFL.com should be more substantiative than just a promotional source--especially when it comes to something as important as the draft. That is a strike against the league's official site if what it promotes as useful information, for its readers, is essentially useless.

Second, I have not critiqued Jaylon Blue's running back abilities. I certainly hope the information relayed by Nick Harris from his coaching sources is 100% accurate about him. Gaining a running back, who can take it to the house (albeit with adequate blocking) is an asset for this team's offense.

 

[Blast From The Past]

Dallas was lucky he was still available. The RB group would look a lot worse if Blue had been snatched up earlier.

Mocked Blue only once in all of the mock drafts I did. Was very surprised they got Blue and in the late rounds to top it off. Fumble issues can be fixed but speed, ya either have it or you don't. Jadon not Vida has it in spades. Glad to have him onboard.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Bro, you’re taking a victory lap like Blue got selected in Round 2 based on some unsourced perceived value.

The reality is NFL teams thought so much of him they past on him until we took him in the 5th round.

Also, hope your chemo is going well!

One of the great things about this forum, particularly during the off season, Cowboys fans can’t talk themselves into anything. “His skill set screams Jahmyr Gibbs.” That in itself is hilarious. Unfortunately the skill set of the other ten guys on the field with him do not scream Detroit Lions.

 

[Brax]

There were several posters who argued with me over the past month, two or three about how Jaylon Blue was no where on the internet or teams' press clippings of having Jaydon Blue ranked any higher than a 4th round in value.

Well, I told them they were wrong. Told them Jaydon Blue was valued of being as high as a 2nd round value. This recent article just confirms it. Minimum of a Round 2 value and 3rd best RB overall in this year's 2025 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys front office and other coaches.

So good he went in the 5th. 32 teams let him slide to the 5th. You always let second round round talent slide, you’re funny when he flashes his 5 round talent I’m sure you will be blaming the OL and coaches. You do know if SS was there old blue would still be sucking wind

 

[fivetwos]

We gotta get more weapons but improved blocking is going to give us a foundation.

Our division has game wreckers on the Dlines, especially D Tackles in our division.

Our interior OL should be much improved.

I think Steele bounces back and is 100% again.

Guyton is my concern but the talent is there.

I’m a little surprised that you think that of Steele. I think Guyton is much more talented, but needs to be used properly.

But admitting being wrong isn’t exactly a strong suit for this organization.

 

[TwistedL0g1k]

Four of my go to draft prospect rankings had Blue ranked #13, #20, #21 and #25 among RB's in the recent draft.

I love the pick and value in the 5th, but let's be realistic.

I still say he'll be RB1 before the season is over- which says as much about the other RB's on the roster as it does Blue.

 

[Parcells4Life]

I am not sure I totally buy into the Cowboys ranking Blue as the third best back in the entire draft. There were reports they would have taken Quinshon Judkins in the 2nd round if the Browns didn't scoop him up at 36.

Now if they had a 2nd or 3rd ROUND grade on Blue, I can see that. You can't teach speed and this kid has it.

There’s no way he was RB3. You don’t let RB3 last until the 5th round unless you think every other RB is awful and that definitely wasn’t the case this draft.

 

[dupree89]

One of the great things about this forum, particularly during the off season, Cowboys fans can’t talk themselves into anything. “His skill set screams Jahmyr Gibbs.” That in itself is hilarious. Unfortunately the skill set of the other ten guys on the field with him do not scream Detroit Lions.

This was funny. Thank you King

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Then Why did they wait until the 5th round? If the entire NFL is telling you Mazi isnt a first round talent but you think he’s a top 15 guy, you take him in the first round and tell the rest of the league to sod off.

Unless they felt a generationally deep RB class sucked and the third best guy wasn’t worth a 4th round pick, I suppose that’d be a logical reason.

Thats a hyperbolic explanation, but articles like this come out every year propping up a team’s draft class, and it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense

 

[CATCH17]

I’m a little surprised that you think that of Steele. I think Guyton is much more talented, but needs to be used properly.

But admitting being wrong isn’t exactly a strong suit for this organization.

Steele has been really good until last year and he was coming off the knee injury.

If he’s bad this year then time to move on.

I think he bounces back.