Jerry Jones says in between the lines what we already knew about the Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft
In the hours leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, multiple reporters appeared to agree on a key aspect of the Dallas Cowboys' first-round plans. If Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was on the board when they were on the clock at No. 12 overall, he would likely be the pick. If not, no one quite […]
In the hours leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, multiple reporters appeared to agree on a key aspect of the Dallas Cowboys' first-round plans.
If Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was on the board when they were on the clock at No. 12 overall, he would likely be the pick. If not, no one quite knew what they were going to do.
That isn't to say that it was McMillan or bust for the Cowboys. Rather, it was probably more about the Arizona product being among the team's highest-graded players and him fitting the team's top need. In contrast, it doesn't sound like Matthew Golden or Emeka Egbuka were graded high enough to beat players like Tyler Booker, the offensive guard from Alabama who ended up being the Cowboys' first-round pick.
Though we didn't get explicit confirmation on that notion from Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones, he did suggest in between the lines that was the case.
Asked about "how bad" the Cowboys need help at wide receiver and running back, Jones hinted at what might've happened had things gone different at No. 12 overall.
"I don't think the word is 'bad," Jones said via ESPN's Todd Archer. "We certainly have the ability to do that. It may not be at the level at receiver that maybe we might have looked at had the thing fallen a different way but there are receivers."
The key part of the above quote is "we might have looked at had the thing fallen a different way." Considering it was only McMillan off the board at WR (excluding two-way phenom Travis Hunter), that certainly suggests had he been available, he would've been the pick.
I guess we'll never know for sure.
Jones added the Cowboys had a plan to trade down but a scenario didn't come about.
What is true is that the Cowboys still need a wide receiver and they need one badly. Sure, running back is a problem they can get away with more easily, be it a late-round pickup or a trade.
But it will be difficult to hide the offense's lack of a proven WR2 if no important additions are made soon. We'll see if the second round becomes an opportunity for them to do something.
