After undergoing a major coaching transition this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have a key decision to make in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was promoted to head coach after owner and general manager Jerry Jones parted ways with Mike McCarthy.
There is certainly plenty of areas to address after a disappointing 7-10 season, as Dallas finished 28th in total defense and 17th in total offense.
While the future status of All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons is drawing the most attention with one season remaining on his rookie contract, the latest NFL mock draft from Athlon Sports has Dallas addressing the offensive needs.
Star quarterback Dak Prescott has an elite weapon in All-Pro wideout Ceedee Lamb. However, receivers Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin could be gone to free agency.
In an effort to provide Jones and Co. with more picks later in the draft, Luke Easterling projects Dallas, who currently holds the No. 12 pick, to trade back with Cincinatti to take combine standout wide receiver Matthew Golden at No. 16 overall.
Golden (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) put together a career-year with the Texas Longhorns last season. The former Houston transfer caught 58 passes for 987 yards with nine touchdowns, all career-highs.
Golden followed up his senior season with a stellar performance at the NFL combine last week in Indianapolis, leading all wide receivers and finishing second overall with a 4.29 40-yard dash.
“After moving down and grabbing another Day 2 pick, the Cowboys are in a position to get better value while still filling their need for more explosive playmakers on offense,” Easterling wrote. “CeeDee Lamb is one of the best receivers in the league, but Dak Prescott needs another target who can make opposing defenses pay for rolling coverages to Lamb’s side of the field.”
This trade scenario would give the Cowboys 11 picks this spring, which would tie the Jacksonville Jaguars for the second-most picks in the league.
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place from April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
