2025 NFL Draft Week Coverage

Mustang1

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Then he would most certainly have drafted Shaduer. I sense something's changed. Perhaps mortality has him thinking differently. He WANTS that one last glorious
The only way I buy your point is if Jerruh and Spawn get their incompetent asses up in their owners box and hire a real GM. Then and not until then will I concede your point. There is absolutely nothing to indicate anything has changed. Factor Dak into the equation and we are double screwed. Just trying to keep it real.
 

Doomsday

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The only way I buy your point is if Jerruh and Spawn get their incompetent asses up in their owners box and hire a real GM. Then and not until then will I concede your point. There is absolutely nothing to indicate anything has changed. Factor Dak into the equation and we are double screwed. Just trying to keep it real.
If the money truly is the ONLY thing Jerruh cares about he doesn't possibly pass on the golden goose.
 

yimyammer

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Jerry is literally the only GM type that I have seen BRAG about vastly overpaying someone and act like that is some barometer of success or accomplishment.

What's next Jerry? "Hey, I paid $345,000 for a 1976 Pinto!!!!"
 
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Another draft in the books. Don't think the first two picks bust unlike the last two years but this team is miles from competing.
I think it was a decent draft, but I don't think it was good enough to move us up the NFC East pecking order. The Eagles' draft was slightly better imho, as was the Giants'. The Skins didn't have many picks so it's hard to tell if they improved much, but they have a good, young, mobile QB in place and we don't.

I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we were picking top 10 (maybe even top 5) in the draft next year, where surely Jerry is going to pick our QB of the future, right? Right?
 

dbair1967

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I think it was a decent draft, but I don't think it was good enough to move us up the NFC East pecking order. The Eagles' draft was slightly better imho, as was the Giants'. The Skins didn't have many picks so it's hard to tell if they improved much, but they have a good, young, mobile QB in place and we don't.

I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we were picking top 10 (maybe even top 5) in the draft next year, where surely Jerry is going to pick our QB of the future, right? Right?
The Giants draft is probably only "good" if Dart turns into their long term answer at QB, and its obviously too soon to know that. They would appear to have cornerstone players at a number of key positions (pass rushers, DT, LT, WR, good safeties) but the jury is out on QB and they don't have much at CB either. I think they are probably a yr or so away.

Philly seems to have had a decent draft, although Campbell does have a significant shoulder injury and those can turn into major problems for LB's, but I do like some of their others picks too. Philly also lost a number of really good players in free agency. They had a nearly perfect yr last yr and had no major injuries, the odds of that happening again are pretty slim I'd say.

Washington didn't have a good draft IMO and while they deserve major props for kicking the Lions ass last yr in Detroit (albeit a Detroit defense that had almost no starters by then), they barely made the playoffs and we came this <> close to sweeping them even though we had a team ravaged by injuries and started 3 different QB's. Their "all in" moves this yr produced an older LT that led the NFL in penalties last yr and has slipped in game ability quite a bit over the last several seasons, and trading for a WR who people hooed and hollered over but actually had far worse numbers than Jalen Tolbert last yr.

There's def a gap between us and Philly, but I don't think there's any gap between us and Washington, and we have more talent than the NYG.
 

dbair1967

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Another draft in the books. Don't think the first two picks bust unlike the last two years but this team is miles from competing.
Guyton and Kneeland are nowhere near busts right now. Mazi made some strides last yr and even Schoonmaker got better as the yr wore on, when he got his chance to be the #1 for Ferguson he produced.

I think Quinn set Mazi back a ways by having him lose tons of weight and be a "pass rusher", that's not his game and never was. He needs his bulk and strength (which is what got him drafted high in the first place)
 

dbair1967

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Dane Brugler reviews of all Cowboys picks.

1) Tyler Booker OG Alabama (#1 rated G)

STRENGTHS: ● Physically imposing size with wide base, long arms and proportional mass ● Repeatable tape — strain and finish, strain and finish, etc. ● Efficient setup to square rushers in pass pro ● Heavy hands to land jarring strikes and crater defenders ● Bends well for his size with hip mobility to anchor and slow down bull rush ● Drives his feet in run game to displace and create lane access ● Controlled and decisive as a puller and will unload when on a single track ● Always looking for work and hunts opportunities to put defenders on their backs ● Describes play style as "legal assault" (Booker: "I make guys not love football anymore.") ● Laser-focused — he's been on a mission to be an NFL player since grade school ● Durable and works hard to stay conditioned — started 27 of his last 28 games at Alabama ● Team captain who describes himself as a "natural born leader" and gets the most out of his teammates (NFL scout: "He keeps everyone accountable in that locker room. ... After (Alabama's) Vandy loss, 'Book' was the guy who got everyone back on track.")

WEAKNESSES: ● More functional than dynamic as an athlete, which shows when he redirects in space ● Lacks suddenness in countering steps/reactions ● Quick out of stance but can be more aggressive in sets to achieve an upkick position ● Hands can get caught outside defender, hurting his ability to latch and control ● Committed seven penalties in 2024, including three false starts ● Saw late-game snaps at right guard as freshman but worked almost exclusively at left guard in college (trained at right guard and center during pre-draft workouts with O-line guru Duke Manyweather) ● Missed one game as sophomore because of back spasms (Sept. 2023)

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Alabama, Booker primarily lined up at left guard in head coach Kalen DeBoer's run-heavy, RPO-based scheme. After an inconsistent yet promising first two years in Tuscaloosa, he had an All-America junior season as a critical team leader and made the key improvements NFL scouts were hoping to see. In pass protection, you want your guards creating the depth of the pocket by answering and anchoring, which Booker does at a high level. In the run game, you want your guards driving and creating room with the intent of dominating their man, which Booker also does consistently. The next step for him is to continue developing his savviness to counter/reach high-end athleticism and blitzes that cross his face. Overall, Booker is built like a bull, with the play strength and finishing mentality to match. His average foot quickness, however, might not be ideal for every scheme. He projects as an immediate starting guard with the tools and competitive character that are easy to bet on.
 

dbair1967

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Donovan Ezeiruaku Edge/DE, Boston College (6th rated at position)

TRENGTHS: ● Bendy athlete with disproportionately long arms ● Accelerates well around the arc with impressive body dip ● Go-to move is a jab step with a slap/cross-chop to pry open the rush lane ● Uses length to chop down and erase blocking hands ● Explosive laterally to sidestep and maneuver around roadblocks ● Uses quick swim/arm-over moves to blow through tight end blocks ● Long reach helps him maintain space in the run game and stay detached on the move ● Two-year team captain with strong football character ● Durable; started 36 straight games before opting out of the 2024 bowl game ● Led FBS in sacks per game (1.38) and took home the 2024 Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end ● Tied Boston College single-season record with 16.5 sacks and joined Mathias Kiwanuka as the only players in school history to reach 30 career sacks

WEAKNESSES: ● Below-average height with a very light frame ● Needs to get stronger in both his upper and lower halves to better match up against NFL linemen ● Doesn't have power in his hands to move blockers with a bull rush ● Needs to develop a more efective low-side counter and when transitioning of his long-arm move ● Will have a tough time two-gapping ● Only average speed and struggles to close the gap in pursuit ● Can shake him in the backfield; needs to stay under control breaking down in tight quarters ● Occasionally lined up as a MIKE on third downs — but as a blitzer, not dropping or as a coverage player

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Boston College, Ezeiruaku was an outside edge rusher (left and right) in defensive coordinator Tim Lewis' 4-3 base scheme (lined up mostly as a stand-up defender, with 99.7 percent of his snaps coming wide of the tackle as a 7- or 9-tech). After leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss as a sophomore and junior, he became the 13th consensus All-American in school history as a senior and finished top three in the FBS in both sacks (16.5) and tackles for loss (20.5). As a pass rusher, Ezeiruaku is more "dip-and-rip" than he is a force player, with his natural feel for depth points and the diferent ways he uses jab steps and cross-chops to soften the corner. He can be overwhelmed at times against the run but flashes the length to get into an opponent's pads, lock out and stalemate at the point of attack, especially on the move. Overall, Ezeiruaku is a tad light for a stack-and-shed edge setter, but rushing the passer is his calling card, and he has the arc acceleration, body flexibility and long, active arms to break down the balance of blockers. He has NFL starter-level talent, and his tape says he is more than a DPR (designated pass rusher).
 

dbair1967

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Shavon Revel Jr, CB East Carolina (7th rated CB)

STRENGTHS: ● Impressive size-speed combination ● Above-average arm length, with a wingspan wider than any cornerback drafted last year ● Loves to press — looks to get physical and disrupt routes early ● Has knack for using sideline and escorting receivers there ● Eats up grass quickly with acceleration to make up gaps in coverage ● Shows astute timing and eye balance in bait and drive ● Budding playmaking skills (three interceptions in his final four games) ● Returned two of three career interceptions 50 yards or more for touchdowns ● Functional tackler — willing to drive, wrap and finish ● Blocked field goals in consecutive weeks in 2023 ● Faced numerous roadblocks to get to this point in career — no questions about mental toughness or work ethic

WEAKNESSES: ● Thin-limbed and doesn't carry heavy mass on frame ● Gets upright in pedal, which will disrupt his balance in man-to-man ● Can do better job staying on same plane in vertical transitions ● Grabby at top of routes and will draw attention when ball is in the air ● Outside-only corner at East Carolina, primarily in the boundary ● Will be 24 on draft weekend ● Torn ACL and partial meniscus tear in left knee during practice (Sept. 2024), which sidelined him for remainder of his final season and most of draft process; missed start of 2022 season because of boxer's fracture to right hand sufered in preseason camp; multiple injuries from high school, including broken collarbone as junior (Oct. 2018) and serious head trauma and other injuries from car accident as sophomore (Nov. 2017)

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at East Carolina, Revel was the boundary corner in former defensive coordinator Blake Harrell's quarters-based scheme. After grades forced him to go the junior college route out of high school, he drew East Carolina's attention and later emerged as an NFL prospect (17 passes defended and three interceptions over his final 15 college starts). Unfortunately, a knee injury sidelined him for most of his senior season and the pre-draft process, which kept him from testing or working out for NFL teams before the draft. With his size, speed and physicality, Revel changed East Carolina's approach on defense, because of his press-man skill set — he uses his length to disrupt routes and explosiveness to stay attached. Though he does a great job playing through the hands of receivers, he is guilty of grabbing and holding too much, especially in of coverage. That issue should continue to fade as he hones his technique in the NFL. Overall, his durability will be questioned, understandably, but Revel is a boundary bully with terrific speed, length and ball-tracking skills. He has the talent of an NFL starter
 

dbair1967

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Jaydon Blue, RB Texas (21st rated RB)

STRENGTHS: ● Explosive athlete — hits another gear once he sees green grass ● Both fast and agile to scoot around defenders ● Able to read blocks at line, tempo run and redirect path ● Drops pads and uses run leverage to burrow through congestion ● Dangerous in screen/wheel receiving game ● Out-angles defenders in open field, giving his quarterback a target ● Responsible for three plays of 45 yards or more in 2024 ● Played on kick coverages in 2023 (two tackles)

WEAKNESSES: ● Doesn't have body type for full-time carries (at least 18 ofensive touches just once in his 38 games) ● Marginal run power through narrow lanes ● Inconsistent patience and lane recognition ● Ball security a major question mark (seven fumbles over past two seasons, including five in 2024) ● Gives effort in pass protection but will be limited by frame ● Missed one game as junior because of right ankle injury (Sept. 2024) ● Needs to convince NFL teams he has desire and work ethic to maximize talent

SUMMARY: Blue was part of a running back committee in head coach Steve Sarkisian's multiple-run scheme (RPO, wide-zone ofense). He played behind two early-round NFL Draft picks (Bijan Robinson, Jonathon Brooks) his first two seasons before becoming a key cog in the Longhorns' ofensive attack in 2024 — he scored four touchdowns in the playofs. Blue moves with electricity in his feet to make defenders miss in a phone booth and is at his best as a pass catcher on screens, angles and wheels (No. 1 among FBS running backs with six receiving touchdowns). An undersized back, he is inconsistent working through trafc and must improve his ball security at the next level (fumbled once every 25 times he touched the ball in 2024). Overall, Blue is a threat to make a house call at any point, especially as a receiving weapon out of the backfield, but NFL scouts say he may need time to learn what it takes to be a professional. His dynamic talent can upgrade a backfield
 

dbair1967

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Shemar James, LB Florida (14th rated LB)

STRENGTHS: ● Plays fast and persistent (models game after Patrick Queen) ● Loose, smooth-moving athlete in open field ● Flows quickly downhill and laterally to cut of running back angles ● Dips shoulder to bend underneath climbers ● Weaponizes speed through gaps as blitzer ● Flashes physicality and looks to use technique in his take-on approach ● Has athletic tools to continue improving in coverage ● Team captain; described as an "energetic leader" and "great teammate" by Gators head coach Billy Napier ● One of youngest players in draft class

WEAKNESSES: ● Underdeveloped instincts and play recognition ● Needs to be quicker diagnosing mesh-point action on zone reads ● Inconsistent weight transfer in break down, leading to of-balance tackle attempts ● Average-at-best finishing strength (see 2024 Texas tape) ● Struggles to recover after misstep in coverage, leading to YAC opportunities ● Dislocated left knee cap (Oct. 2023), which required season-ending surgery ( had a similar injury in high school) ● Played on kick and punt coverages in 2024 but had more missed tackles than tackles ● Unimpressive tackle production overall (tackles per start dropped from 6.9 in 2023 to 4.9 in 2024)

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Florida, James played Will linebacker in former defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong's scheme. He was one of the prizes of Billy Napier's initial recruiting class with the Gators and worked his way back from a season-ending knee injury in 2023 to put intriguing flashes on his 2024 film as a team captain. When he accurately reads and unlocks, James plays with the speed, twitch and change-of-direction skills to make stops all over the field. He can flex as a blitzer but must become more consistent in his coverage drops to maximize his energetic talent. Overall, James needs to mature his play recognition to cut down on the missteps, but the athletic tools are there for him to become a rangy run-and-hit defender. Carving out a special teams role early in his career will be critical as he develops.
 

dbair1967

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Ajani Cornelius, OT Oregon (20th rated OT)

STRENGTHS: ● A tad short but has a wide frame with good length ● Functional feet to quick set or slide laterally ● Delivers firm punch in pass pro and looks to jar rushers at contact ● Plays with different backup plans to help him lose slowly ● Comfortable on the move in run game to reach and fit different gaps ● Solid strength through engagement to out-angle defenders ● Has a mean streak to him — won't shy from burying an opponent once he gets upper hand ● Played in all 50 games past four seasons (two at Rhode Island, two at Oregon); didn't miss a game because of injury

WEAKNESSES: ● Doesn't have ideal athleticism for island responsibilities ● Tight and upright when attempting to redirect ● Hands and feet often appear disjointed ● Has a tough time handling power at top of the rush (see reps vs. Ohio State's Jack Sawyer) ● Plays with tall pads and struggles re-leveraging hands to sit down against bull rushes ● Loses drive strength in run game when defenders get into his chest ● Doesn't have proven versatility — all of his college starts came at right tackle

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Oregon, Cornelius held down right tackle in offensive coordinator Will Stein's multiple run scheme with a lot of unbalanced looks. A late bloomer on the football field, he raised his profile at Rhode Island and received multiple Big Ten and SEC offers before landing in Eugene and starting every game the past two seasons (50 straight starts to end his career). Cornelius has some stiffness in his lower half with average movement control, but he has decent feet to work himself into position in both pass pro and the run game. Despite bad habits with his pad level and timing, he plays with some savvy to access Plan B and Plan C when things fall apart. Overall, it doesn't always look pretty with Cornelius, especially when stressed to protect the edge, but he often gets the job done when he weaponizes his hands to keep defenders occupied. He projects as an NFL backup and will prolong his career if he can provide depth inside as guard as well
 
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