The Dallas Cowboys once again neglected free agency in any meaningful way, placing lots of pressure on Jerry Jones to get the 2025 NFL Draft right. Fans were hoping to pump their fists but were left scratching their heads.
Jones took an unconventional route through the 2025 NFL Draft, taking players that many were surprised by. However, he neglected one area of the roster entirely, to one PFSN analyst’s surprise.
Cowboys Failed To Address Wide Receiver, According to Sterling Xie
Writing in an April 30 post-NFL Draft breakdown, PFSN analyst Sterling Xie explained why the Cowboys needed a wide receiver and how failing to address the position could hurt the team going into 2025.
“Over the last two seasons, CeeDee Lamb ranks top five in percent of team receptions (28.6%) and receiving yards (33.6%). Hopefully, Lamb is ready for a similarly massive volume in 2025, because the Dallas Cowboys did not draft a single wide receiver and will once again rely heavily on Lamb in the passing game,” he wrote.
“With Lamb primarily occupying the slot, the perimeter receivers in three-receiver sets currently project as Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo. Neither has ever eclipsed 50 receptions or 650 receiving yards in a season, and is not a surefire starting-level option … All this leaves Dak Prescott dangerously reliant on his All-Pro receiver once again,” he added.
The Cowboys finished 23rd in PFSN’s Offense+ metrics in 2024 and are now seemingly in danger of slipping into that territory again.
Cowboys Also Skimped on Another Important Position in 2025 NFL Draft
Of course, while Jones did add offensive pieces like offensive guard Tyler Booker, running backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, and offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius, he neglected the one spot that was the other big issue for the team in 2024.
Dallas clearly needed a star running back to pair with Prescott, finishing 29th in average yards per game by ESPN metrics. While Jones took two backs, he took them near the bottom of the NFL Draft. Mafah was trending down in yards per attempt before joining the Cowboys, and Blue failed to have a 1,000-yard season in college.
The Cowboys passed on Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, RJ Harvey, and Kaleb Johnson, among others.
It now falls on the Cowboys to prove they were able to get two backs that can add up to one of the top running back prospects, or it could be another volley that experts and fans can load up to call out the team in 2025.
Jones did things his way, and now he will either prove the world wrong or face massive blowback in response.
Did Jones outsmart the NFL, or did he outsmart himself?