2025 NFL Draft: Players Cowboys could target in the first-round at positions of need

The Dallas Cowboys closed out the 2024 NFL season with a 23-19 loss to the Washington Commanders. They finished the year with a 7-10 record and now hold the 12th overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. What they end up doing with it or the position they could target is anyone’s guess as of right now.

From figuring out what to do with the coaching staff to free agency, the Cowboys have a lot of work to do between now and April when the draft gets underway. Today, we thought we’d share what we believe Dallas’ roster “needs” are heading into the offseason and the players they could target with their first-round pick.

Defensive tackle
Expected back next season: Mazi Smith

Possible key losses: Osa Odighizuwa

Potential first-round target: Derrick Harmon, Oregon (6’5″, 310)

Oregon IDL Derrick Harmon (6’5 310 lbs). One of the best interior pass rushers in CFB. Long arms. Good first step. Very good bull rush. 2nd best pass rush win rate in the P5 at 18.3%. Doesn’t anchor well versus double teams. Run production is average.. pic.twitter.com/G9UupE2tda

— Adam Carter (@SmartfootbalI) December 24, 2024

If the Cowboys let Osa Odighizuwa walk in free agency they will need a new starting 3-technique to replace him. Derrick Harmon has seen his draft stock rise significantly throughout the year after transferring from Michigan State and has become one of the top DT prospects in 2025. He has three-down ability and is equally effective as a pass rusher and against the run.

Cornerback
Expected back next season: DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs (working back from knee surgery), Caelen Carson, Josh Butler (working back from knee injury)

Possible key losses: Jourdan Lewis

Potential first-round target: Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina (6’3″, 200)

Shavon Revel Jr. (CB #ECU) has impressive closing speed

A modern free-flyer who can shut down deep shots. Physical and confident too. A torn ACL in 2024 will complicate the evaluation, but so much natural talent.

Shades of Woolen/Quinyon to his game

pic.twitter.com/bf07tS16kA

— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) December 27, 2024

Other than DaRon Bland, the CB position for the Cowboys is a significant concern and could be a top priority in the first round. If his medicals check out after suffering an early-season ACL injury, Shavon Revel is someone who would be hard to pass up for the Cowboys. It’s rare for a player with his kind of size/length to have the hip fluidity and closing speed he possesses. He would be an immediate upgrade to Dallas’ secondary.

Running back
Expected back next season: Deuce Vaughn (maybe)

Possible key losses: Rico Dowdle

Potential first-round target: Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (6’0″, 225)

Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson is one of the biggest rising RBs in the draft class. With light, patient feet, Johnson is one of the best backs in the nation of setting up blocks. Excellent vision and play speed.

Imo he has a legit chance to be the first non-Jeanty RB off the board pic.twitter.com/NRfJXGmlbH

— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) October 22, 2024

Aston Jeanty is the cream of the crop of the RB draft class, but will likely be gone by the time the Cowboys are on the clock. Kaleb Johnson that would be a nice consolation prize, but someone they’d likely target in a trade down scenario. He has a prototypical size teams look for in an RB1 with a three-down skill set at the next level. He’s patient, processes things quickly at the LOS, and has a really good understanding about how to set up his blocks.

Offensive line
Expected back next season: Tyler Smith, Tyler Guyton, Terence Steele, Cooper Beebe, T.J. Bass, Asim Richards, Nathan Thomas

Possible key losses: Zack Martin, Chuma Edoga, Brock Hoffman (restricted free agent)

Potential first-round target: Marcus Mbow, Purdue (6’5″, 305)

The Cowboys may need to replace both Zack Martin and possibly Terence Steele if they make him a salary-cap casualty. Marcus Mbow is just starting to get a little bit of first-round love in the draft process and should continue to see his stock rise. He’s one of the most athletically gifted lineman in the entire draft class with the versatility to play right guard or tackle at the next level. He could be a perfect fit with the Cowboys at either position.

Wide receiver
Expected back next season: CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Jonathan Mingo, Ryan Flournoy

Possible key losses: Brandin Cooks, KaVontae Turpin (restricted free agent)

Potential first-round target: Luther Burden III, Missouri (5’11”, 200)

Depending on who you talk to, Luther Burden is the best wide receiver in the entire 2025 draft class and would make an excellent complement to CeeDee Lamb with the Cowboys. He has the speed and skill set to challenge opposing defenses deep, but because of his physicality and contact balance he’s at his best as a catch and run type of WR in the short to intermediate areas of the field. He’s a yards after catch demon and a QBs best friend.