Which rookies will likely have impact this year?

[Bobhaze]

One of the unusual parts of the off-season doldrums - the time between draft and FA, OTAs, mini-camps and training camp is the glut of stories and speculation about the impact of rookies on the upcoming season. Fans typically assume most rookies will be better than they ever will be. That’s just what us fans do.

According to NFL stats in the last 25 years, only about 30% of all drafted players will make an NFL roster more than a year. Obviously rounds 1-3 selections which are Day 1 and Day 2 picks are locks. But Day 3 picks - rounds 4-7 are usually long shots statistically.

With that in mind, looking realistically at the Cowboys 2025 draft, which players will have a major impact this season? Here are our picks:

• 1st round Tyler Booker, G. He’s a lock as a starter and most likely to be an impact this season. IMPACT THIS YEAR
• 2nd rd Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE. I see Ezeiruaku as a rotational player who will makes some plays and perhaps show major development as the season goes on. SOME IMPACT THIS YEAR
• 3rd rd Shavon Revell- CB - coming off a major knee injury and having had some kind of off-season “setback” (whatever that means) makes me think Revell may not play much this year. NO IMPACT THIS YEAR
• 5th rd Jaydon Blue- RB- Blue is a speedy Swiss Army knife guy who will probably only get 8-12 touches a game but has big play capacity. Not a starter but will have immediate impact. IMPACT LIKELY
• 6th rd Shemar James, LB- probably will be a ST contributor without much impact. NO IMPACT.
• 6th rd Ajahni Cornelius T - deep backup swing T, definitely a project. NO IMPACT
• 7th rd Jay Toia, DT- a big body run stuffer, Toia is a long shot but with the Cowboys needing run defense help could be a rotational player with minimal impact. LONG SHOT IMPACT
• 7th rd Phil Mafah, RB - Mafah is a long shot because he probably won’t play STs. Probably a practice squad developmental player. NO IMPACT
• 7th rd Tommy Akingbesote, DT - a very long shot most likely to make the practice squad. NO IMPACT

So of the 9 players drafted, I see Booker, Ezeiruaku and Blue as being the most likely rookies to have a meaningful impact on this team in 2025. The 6th and 7th rounders despite our hopes are all by NFL standards developmental long shots. Revell has big upside but that depends on his knee recovery.

Who are your realistic impact rookies?

 

[Mr_437]

Good thread Haze.
Booker and EzeRauk are my impact rookies. Booker is a given. Eze has to fight for snaps, but I think Flus will deploy Parsons, Fowler and EZE in certain situations maximizing the pressure.

Revel may show something mid to late season, but I expect him to be buried on the depth chart if a veteran like Gilmore is signed. The rest of the rookies look like low impact guys that can learn and hopefully make a leap next season into serviceable players in some capacity.

 

[Pass2Run]

Revel being cleared for team activities is just that. Doesn't mean he excels at those activities, especially as a rookie coming into the league and coming off an injury.

 

[reddyuta]

EZe and Booker will be most impactful imo followed by Blue.I am hoping Toia can show something so he can make the team.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'd imagine it's Booker and Eze but even with Eze with so many pass rushers it's hard to tell what impact he's gonna have. And I'd assume Blue will get some reps.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I'm going with Blue even if it is in a limited capacity. A true home run threat at RB is much needed, and if he can show that explosiveness early it's going to force teams to adjust to how they play the Cowboys.

I'm tempted to say Booker, but I worry that bad Tackle play could have a ripple effect that limits the upside of these interior guys.

 

[Bobhaze]

Good thread Haze.
Booker and EzeRauk are my impact rookies. Booker is a given. Eze has to fight for snaps, but I think Flus will deploy Parsons, Fowler and EZE in certain situations maximizing the pressure.

Revel may show something mid to late season, but I expect him to be buried on the depth chart if a veteran like Gilmore is signed. The rest of the rookies look like low impact guys that can learn and hopefully make a leap next season into serviceable players in some capacity.

Unless someone surprises us, it’s hard to see anyone else breaking out this year as a rookie.

As a fan we all want rookies to play at a high level immediately but the evidence over time shows that very few rookies have immediate impact that makes a huge difference. A Day 3 draft pick - we have 5 Day 3 picks - are low percentage chance guys to have long term impact.

 

[mcmvp]

Really liked Revell in this class…sucks to hear he’s had a setback. He would’ve been my pick for impact…along with Ezeiruaku. I also think the Cowboys are going to be happy with Booker in the long run… But it’s going to be hard to measure his impact this year. His full impact will only be realized if they improve the backfield, and the rest of the offensive line.

 

[Blackrain]

Unless someone surprises us, it’s hard to see anyone else breaking out this year as a rookie.

As a fan we all want rookies to play at a high level immediately but the evidence over time shows that very few rookies have immediate impact that makes a huge difference. A Day 3 draft pick - we have 5 Day 3 picks - are low percentage chance guys to have long term impact.

As I am fully aware that the day three picks have a low percentage of impact.

I'm just as aware that many of the top picks are very disappointing Mazi Smith Tyler guyton just to think of a couple off the top of my head.
I found that the only thing truly predictable about the NFL is that it's truly unpredictable it's fun to bench race who will do what but in the end as difficult as it is we really just have to be patient and see who pans out.

Different things motivate different players in different ways sudden responsibility can make less talented guys over achieve and continued entitlement can make very talented guys underachieve.

I'm just going to be patient and not make any predictions but hope for the best

 

[tromofan]

Booker and Ez are no brainers. I would say Revell if not for the injury. Everyone else is wait and see. Also, love the Toia pick.

 

[Bobhaze]

I can’t emphasize enough how big of a long shot most Day 3 picks are. Some perspective…

In the last 5 years not including 2025, meaning 2020-2024, the Cowboys have made 25 Day 3 draft picks, rounds 4-7. Of those 25 players, 12 are still with the team, of which 8 are from 2023 and 2024.

Look at every RB we’ve drafted on Day 3 in the last 10 years:

• 2016 - 6th round Darius Jackson (never played for us in reg season)
• 2018 - 7th round Bo Scarborough (never played)
• 2019 - 7th round Mike Weber (never played a down of NFL football)
• 2019 - 4th round Tony Pollard (a very good player)
• 2023 - 6th round Deuce Vaughn (has only played in 14 games in two seasons)

So now we are counting on Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah this year as Day 3 picks. Maybe they can be something. I think Blue will contribute. Mafah is a long shot.

 

[gimmesix]

One of the unusual parts of the off-season doldrums - the time between draft and FA, OTAs, mini-camps and training camp is the glut of stories and speculation about the impact of rookies on the upcoming season. Fans typically assume most rookies will be better than they ever will be. That’s just what us fans do.

According to NFL stats in the last 25 years, only about 30% of all drafted players will make an NFL roster more than a year. Obviously rounds 1-3 selections which are Day 1 and Day 2 picks are locks. But Day 3 picks - rounds 4-7 are usually long shots statistically.

With that in mind, looking realistically at the Cowboys 2025 draft, which players will have a major impact this season? Here are our picks:

• 1st round Tyler Booker, G. He’s a lock as a starter and most likely to be an impact this season. IMPACT THIS YEAR
• 2nd rd Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE. I see Ezeiruaku as a rotational player who will makes some plays and perhaps show major development as the season goes on. SOME IMPACT THIS YEAR
• 3rd rd Shavon Revell- CB - coming off a major knee injury and having had some kind of off-season “setback” (whatever that means) makes me think Revell may not play much this year. NO IMPACT THIS YEAR
• 5th rd Jaydon Blue- RB- Blue is a speedy Swiss Army knife guy who will probably only get 8-12 touches a game but has big play capacity. Not a starter but will have immediate impact. IMPACT LIKELY
• 6th rd Shemar James, LB- probably will be a ST contributor without much impact. NO IMPACT.
• 6th rd Ajahni Cornelius T - deep backup swing T, definitely a project. NO IMPACT
• 7th rd Jay Toia, DT- a big body run stuffer, Toia is a long shot but with the Cowboys needing run defense help could be a rotational player with minimal impact. LONG SHOT IMPACT
• 7th rd Phil Mafah, RB - Mafah is a long shot because he probably won’t play STs. Probably a practice squad developmental player. NO IMPACT
• 7th rd Tommy Akingbesote, DT - a very long shot most likely to make the practice squad. NO IMPACT

So of the 9 players drafted, I see Booker, Ezeiruaku and Blue as being the most likely rookies to have a meaningful impact on this team in 2025. The 6th and 7th rounders despite our hopes are all by NFL standards developmental long shots. Revell has big upside but that depends on his knee recovery.

Who are your realistic impact rookies?

Booker and Eze should be the obvious impact guys based on where they were drafted. I'm going with Toia to make a bigger impact than expected. I think he's going to be a cog in making our run defense better. His impact won't show up in tackles or sacks, but if we're top 15 in run defense and he plays a lot of run-down snaps, I think he'll be one of the reasons.

Blue would seem to have a clear path to playing time as well as our only speed back. We can hope that he provides us what Pollard did as a rookie since he entered the league as timeshare speed back with receiver-like skills. Pollard finished with 86 carries for 455 yards and 15 receptions, so I think that is a reasonable expectation for Blue.

 

[jazzcat22]

Booker and Eze for sure.
Blue if the OL gels, and along with Lamb And Pickens play great, it opens up the run better. Prevents from stacking the box.

Revel, depends on his health. Until we know the extent of that, set back or no set back is hard to say.

James will have more of an impact than some may think. He was projected to higher, but an injury drop him. So even if he can contribute on ST”s, that is an impact to a degree. He doesn’t need to be a starter to have an impact.

The rest are for depth and future prospects if they make the team.
And may be inactive most games. Except Toia has the best chance to make the team. But I say low impact at first. Will need to earn playing time.

So I can’t say no impact, as is it really fair to put them in a category where they can’t show what they can really do yet. Though I would not count on it, given later round history of success for this team.