Cowboys draft target is absolutely starting to sound like a possibility at No. 12 overall and it would be extremely controversial
In the always-evolving outlook of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys are expected to add an offensive weapon at No. 12 overall. Several reasons go into that, including but not limited to: The board is expected to feature top wide receivers and maybe even top RB prospect Ashton Jeanty from Boise State. The Cowboys have […]
In the always-evolving outlook of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys are expected to add an offensive weapon at No. 12 overall. Several reasons go into that, including but not limited to:
- The board is expected to feature top wide receivers and maybe even top RB prospect Ashton Jeanty from Boise State.
- The Cowboys have focused on bolstering the depth of the defense during this month's free agency frenzy, adding multiple linebackers and defensive linemen.
- The Cowboys badly need offensive weapons to complement CeeDee Lamb and they could use a difference-maker at running back.
For a long time, Jeanty was expected to be the pick and as long as he's on the board in April, he could be considered the likeliest choice for the Cowboys. Recently, with Jeanty's range being everywhere in recent mock drafts, wide receiver has become a theme for Dallas. From Missouri's Luther Burden to Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan and the rising Matthew Golden from Texas, Dallas is often linked to a pass catcher.
However, a name with some rising buzz around him is one few people have considered for the Cowboys at No. 12 but multiple draft insiders are starting to link him to Dallas little over a month removed from the big day: North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton.
In his latest mock draft, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah had the Cowboys picking Golden (Texas WR) but went out of his way to mention Hampton as a possibility.
"With Ashton Jeanty off the board, I wouldn’t rule out North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton landing here," Jeremiah wrote.
That by itself is enough to raise some eyebrows but here's the thing: Jeremiah isn't alone. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. went one step further by actually mocking Hampton to the Cowboys at No. 12 for the second consecutive time:
"No change on my Cowboys pick projection from my last mock draft," wrote Kiper Jr. "Hampton actually firmed up his first-round case at the combine, running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and leaping 10 feet, 10 inches in the broad jump. He is a home run hitter who could spark something in this Dallas running game, which has been dormant for the past two campaigns."
With Kiper Jr. sticking to his prediction in back-to-back mocks and Jeremiah mentioning him as a possibility at No. 12, you have to wonder what they know.
If Hampton ends up being the choice for the Cowboys, it's going to be a highly controversial one. With a Top 15 pick, targeting a more valuable position could be the best route. If Jeanty was the pick, it would be because he's an exception to the rule. He's a rare three-down back with little to no injury history and almost no question marks as a prospect.
Hampton, as good as he may be, could prove to be costly if the Cowboys are passing on a top-tier offensive lineman, wide receiver, or even cornerback with their pick.
But right now, he sounds like a viable and likely choice for Dallas, even if it's a reach.
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