The Cowboys rely on their rookies to make an immediate impact. Last season, Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe were drafted to start on the offensive line and injuries set up Marshawn Kneeland, Marist Liufau, and Caelen Carson to be significant contributors early as well. In the 2025 draft, Dallas added prospects they expect to play a large number of snaps as rookies, and everyone will be watching them closely.
Tyler Booker was drafted No. 12 overall to replace future Hall of Famer Zack Martin. Martin struggled last year, regressing due to age and injury. Dallas decided to solidify their interior by drafting Booker to pair with Beebe at center and All-Pro Tyler Smith at left guard.
Booker looks to be a plug-and-play prospect who has been a team leader everywhere he has been. Since being drafted he’s done everything right in front of a microphone.
As for Shavon Revel Jr, he isn’t a typical third-round corner. He was near the top of most scouts’ position lists based on talent, slipping due to his ACL injury. Dallas has taken injured players so frequently people have given it the name “Blue Star Special.” Typically, this occurs in the second round, but Revel Jr. is expected to be available during training camp, and with injuries to Trevon Diggs and Josh Butler, Revel Jr. could see starting snaps early on.
If he lives up to his potential early, the season could end with Bland moving inside against three wide receiver sets and Revel Jr. being the first option outside opposite Diggs in those situations.
Jaydon Blue was drafted to be the piece that has been missing from the running back room. Head Coach Brian Shottenheimer has repeatedly spoke of the need for an explosion and Blue is the only option who brings that to the team. He had fumbling issues early on last season at Texas, but when he returned from being benched, the fumbling issues never returned.
Blue has fresh legs; his highest total touches in a season was 176, and he averaged over six yards per touch. Ideally, he would be their top guy in the backfield, but he has to show he can handle that job.
Finally, defensive tackle Jay Toia could start next to Osa Odighizuwa at some point in the 2025 season. All he needs to do is be more reliable than former first-round pick Mazi Smith. Smith had stretches of good play, especially against division opponents, but he has never lived up to the expectations of his draft slot. Toia was picked in the seventh round, but scouts like Dane Brugler had him as early as a third-round option.
Toia is just over 6-foot-2 and 340 pounds, and he had enough athleticism to play over 50 snaps standing up like a linebacker his last season at UCLA. Even if Smith is the starter all season, Toia will be needed to play rotational snaps at defensive tackle behind him.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast