'Brings to mind Aaron Donald' Dallas Cowboys are looking into two of the five riskiest prospects of 2025 NFL Draft

Whether it's from rapper Young Jeezy or Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, you've probably heard of "Scared money don't make money." The Dallas Cowboys might not apply such a philosophy when it comes to hiring head coaches or free agency spending but if you're talking NFL Draft prospects, they love to take some risks […]

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Walter Nolen (2) and defensive end Princely Umanmielen (1) celebrate a sack against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Walter Nolen (2) and defensive end Princely Umanmielen (1) celebrate a sack against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Whether it's from rapper Young Jeezy or Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, you've probably heard of "Scared money don't make money."

The Dallas Cowboys might not apply such a philosophy when it comes to hiring head coaches or free agency spending but if you're talking NFL Draft prospects, they love to take some risks with upside. 

As such, it's not a surprise the Cowboys are looking into two of the five riskiest draft prospects in the eyes of A to Z Sports draft analyst Ian Valentino. 

Now that it's Top 30 visits season around the NFL, we're getting a good idea of what positions Dallas wishes to address at the end of the month. Of the 16 reported visits so far, two of them are DT Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) and DL Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M).

These two players have three things in common:

  1. They both play defensive line. 
  2. They're both projected first rounders. 
  3. They're both on Valentino's list of five riskiest prospects of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Let's dive into the why and whether or not they'd make sense for the Cowboys. 

DT Walter Nolen

Why he's risky: There are moments when watching Walter Nolen on the field brings to mind the dominance of Gerald McCoy or Aaron Donald. At 296 pounds, his speed and agility are striking, often making him appear smaller as he changes directions with an unusual quickness. Teams are banking on these standout traits.

In 2024, Nolen's performance surged compared to previous years, marked by a significant increase in advanced statistics. His quarterback hurries tripled, and he surpassed his previous best in run stops. However, there remains some skepticism within the league regarding Nolen's consistency and his drive to achieve his full potential. – Ian Valentino

Here's my take on Nolen: I don't see the Cowboys picking him at No. 12 overall and that's not just because of their needs or the concerns surrounding Nolen, who played  in six schools in seven years including college and high school. It's also because they recently signed Osa Odighizuwa to an $80 million deal. Are they willing to spend their first Top 15 pick since 2021 in another three-technique defensive linemen? 

If so, it's because of those glimpses of Aaron Donald-esque play Valentino mentions above. If Nolen's character concerns cause him to tumble in Draft Day, I wouldn't be surprised if Dallas makes a move to land his talent. 

DL Shemar Stewart

Why he's risky: Shemar Stewart is an exceptional athlete, becoming one of only three edge rushers in the past 25 years, alongside Myles Garrett and Mario Williams, to run a sub-4.7 40-yard dash, jump at least 40 inches, and achieve a broad jump of at least 117 inches. With an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, there’s a strong case for him to be a top-five pick in any draft class.

The issue with Stewart isn't his athleticism; rather, it's his on-field production. With only 4.5 career sacks and somewhat average pressure statistics over his three years in college, he hasn’t fully utilized his physical abilities during games. His pressure numbers are decent, but a missed tackle rate of 23.5% in 2024 raises concerns. – Ian Valentino

The risk Stewart entails is a very different one than Nolen's and I wouldn't question the Cowboys' willingness to use a first-round pick on a versatile edge rusher. With defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton on the staff, I can see them convincing themselves of making the pairing work.

Perhaps the biggest factor that could stop the Cowboys from picking any of the above defenders is their needs on offense, including wide receiver and running back. But I bet the risk each of the defensive linemen entails won't stop them from considering on Draft Day, specially if one slides into the second round. 

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