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The Dallas Cowboys have no shortage of needs nor opportunities as they look ahead to the 2025 NFL draft. Cornerback, defensive tackle, running back and wide receiver headline their needs list, but even offensive line, linebacker and tight end would make sense at some point over draft weekend.
Picking No. 12 overall, the Cowboys are assured to see some significant talent fall into their waiting arms. How willing they are to stay openminded and pounce on said talent is the question at hand. It’s become glaringly apparent Dallas is targeting WR in the first round. All four projected first-round WRs received invites to be among the Cowboys official 30 visits and all four appear plug-and-play, capable of contributing immediately to an NFL roster. But what happens if someone better comes along?
The Cowboys have also met with all-world RB Ashton Jeanty this year. He’s not expected to be on the board by the time Dallas goes on the clock but he’s someone who could disrupt their strategy if he was. Same goes for Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou. He too was a visitor, and he too could force the Cowboys to adjust strategies if he fell.
If such a situation befell the Cowboys and they opted not to draft a WR with their first pick, what then?
The obvious solution would be to look to Day 2 of the NFL draft. The second and third rounds feature a handful of talented prospects. Jayden Higgins from Iowa State, Tre Harris from Ole Miss and Elic Ayomanor from Stanford are just a few of the WRs expected to be on the board at No. 44. Projected third rounders like Jalen Royals, Savion Williams, Kyle Williams and Tory Horton are also potential options for the Cowboys if the can is kicked to the second day of the draft.
Unfortunately, second-day WRs haven’t been hitting as of late. Recent drafts have yielded very low returns in the second and third rounds, leaving many teams disappointed with their WR decisions.
It’s hard to argue with the numbers, Day 2 WR hit rate has been lower than most positions in recent years. Teams are often better off looking to Day 3 than wasting a valuable top 100 pick on second and third-tier WRs. That might feel especially true for the Cowboys since they absolutely need to find a player capable of being WR2 this season. They don’t need just another guy in the mix. They have those. They need a top starter. It’s shaping up to be a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario. Day 3 may offer better value and a more appropriate hit rate, but it isn’t going to be any better than the Day 2 options. Again, it will be just adding bodies to the mix and not providing a clear solution.
Yet, looking back a little farther than just the past few years we can see plenty of good WRs were found in the second round. A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf and Deebo Samuel were all second-day picks who turned into gamechangers. It seems the lesson to learn is that scouting matters and just because a team uses a pick on a high WR doesn’t mean he’s going to produce high-draft-pick results.
If the Cowboys have to adjust their strategy because a steal fell into their laps at No. 12, they shouldn't feel obligated to force WR on Day 2 nor should they feel scared to pick one there. Even if the need is glaring, forcing a pick can deliver disastrous results. Next year’s draft looks strong at WR so waiting a year wouldn’t be the end of the world. At the same time if they truly believed in a specific second or third round WR, they shouldn’t be scared of picking him simply because the bust rate has been high as of late.
The Cowboys will probably get to draft a WR with their first pick but in the off chance they don’t, there are other options later. While Day 2 WRs may have a troublesome track record in recent seasons, they aren’t automatic busts. Dallas will just have to trust their scouting department.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 draft: Cowboys might look to avoid Day 2 WRs due to recent busts
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Picking No. 12 overall, the Cowboys are assured to see some significant talent fall into their waiting arms. How willing they are to stay openminded and pounce on said talent is the question at hand. It’s become glaringly apparent Dallas is targeting WR in the first round. All four projected first-round WRs received invites to be among the Cowboys official 30 visits and all four appear plug-and-play, capable of contributing immediately to an NFL roster. But what happens if someone better comes along?
The Cowboys have also met with all-world RB Ashton Jeanty this year. He’s not expected to be on the board by the time Dallas goes on the clock but he’s someone who could disrupt their strategy if he was. Same goes for Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou. He too was a visitor, and he too could force the Cowboys to adjust strategies if he fell.
If such a situation befell the Cowboys and they opted not to draft a WR with their first pick, what then?
The obvious solution would be to look to Day 2 of the NFL draft. The second and third rounds feature a handful of talented prospects. Jayden Higgins from Iowa State, Tre Harris from Ole Miss and Elic Ayomanor from Stanford are just a few of the WRs expected to be on the board at No. 44. Projected third rounders like Jalen Royals, Savion Williams, Kyle Williams and Tory Horton are also potential options for the Cowboys if the can is kicked to the second day of the draft.
Unfortunately, second-day WRs haven’t been hitting as of late. Recent drafts have yielded very low returns in the second and third rounds, leaving many teams disappointed with their WR decisions.
It’s hard to argue with the numbers, Day 2 WR hit rate has been lower than most positions in recent years. Teams are often better off looking to Day 3 than wasting a valuable top 100 pick on second and third-tier WRs. That might feel especially true for the Cowboys since they absolutely need to find a player capable of being WR2 this season. They don’t need just another guy in the mix. They have those. They need a top starter. It’s shaping up to be a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario. Day 3 may offer better value and a more appropriate hit rate, but it isn’t going to be any better than the Day 2 options. Again, it will be just adding bodies to the mix and not providing a clear solution.
Yet, looking back a little farther than just the past few years we can see plenty of good WRs were found in the second round. A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf and Deebo Samuel were all second-day picks who turned into gamechangers. It seems the lesson to learn is that scouting matters and just because a team uses a pick on a high WR doesn’t mean he’s going to produce high-draft-pick results.
If the Cowboys have to adjust their strategy because a steal fell into their laps at No. 12, they shouldn't feel obligated to force WR on Day 2 nor should they feel scared to pick one there. Even if the need is glaring, forcing a pick can deliver disastrous results. Next year’s draft looks strong at WR so waiting a year wouldn’t be the end of the world. At the same time if they truly believed in a specific second or third round WR, they shouldn’t be scared of picking him simply because the bust rate has been high as of late.
The Cowboys will probably get to draft a WR with their first pick but in the off chance they don’t, there are other options later. While Day 2 WRs may have a troublesome track record in recent seasons, they aren’t automatic busts. Dallas will just have to trust their scouting department.
Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 draft: Cowboys might look to avoid Day 2 WRs due to recent busts
Continue reading...
