With the 44th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected DE Donovan Ezeiruaku.

The Cowboys are trusting their board as defensive end isn’t a critical need. But you can never have enough pass rush.

A scouting report from SB Nation:

Stats & Accolades

2022: Played in 10 games (21 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks).

2023: Played in 12 games with 11 starts (61 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two pass breakups). Second-Team All-ACC.

2024: Played in 12 games with 11 starts (80 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, pass breakup, three forced fumbles). First-Team Associated Press All-American. ACC Defensive Player of the Year. First-Team All-ACC. Won Ted Hendricks Award (nation’s top DE).

What the TEAM are getting:

Ezeiruaku is an undersized pass rusher with elite length (34” arms) and lateral movement skills. He has the ability to be a three-down player at the next level but his game is much more finesse at this point than power. He can slip blocks and dip under corners to rack up sacks and tackles, but don’t expect to see him take on contact often. He can be enveloped at his size which is why he uses his evasiveness to stay clean before stabbing through the line to make his plays.

Strengths

Uses elite arm length to keep clean
Very productive with 20.5 TFLs and 16.5 sacks (second in the nation) in 2024
Executes a well-timed arm-over/chop move which gave tackles fits
Explosive laterally to evade and slip around blocks
Jump cuts through blocker’s arms without much deceleration which will draw flags

Weaknesses

Does not possess elite closing speed
Too often cuts inside tackle, allowing quarterbacks free scrambles
Undersized at 6’2 ½” and under 250 pounds
Lacks strength to stack, press, and shed with consistency
Needs to settle in space to keep quarterbacks, ball-carriers from shaking him
Will struggle to set the edge in the run game against NFL linemen

Athletic Testing

Height: 6’2
Weight: 248 pounds
40-yard dash: N/A
10-yard split: N/A
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 11 inches
3-cone drill: 6.94 seconds
Short shuttle: 4.19 seconds
Bench Press: 22 reps

Cowboys 2025 draft picks:

Round 1, pick 12 – G Tyler Booker (Alabama)
Round 2, pick 44 – DE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)
Round 3, pick 76
Round 5, pick 149
Round 5, pick 174
Round 6, pick 204
Round 6, pick 211
Round 7, pick 217
Round 7, pick 239
Round 7, pick 247

Cowboys needs:

WR: The Cowboys need an offensive complement to CeeDee Lamb with Brandin Cooks leaving in free agency.

RB: The additions of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders won’t stop the team from searching for a potential RB1 in this draft.

CB: Trevon Diggs’ injury, Jourdan Lewis’ departure in free agency, and DaRon Bland becoming a free agent next season means the team needs help. The current depth is lackluster.

DT: The 1-tech spot at the moment is Mazi Smith and not much else. Dallas should certainly look to add a draft prospect here.

OL: The Cowboys have most of the line filled in, but there is a chance they want a young player to compete for the right guard position.

LB: The Cowboys made some additions in the offseason to fill a thin position, but they could use another talented young player to put in the mix.