With the college football campaign nearing its end and the 2025 NFL Draft quickly approaching, NFL teams such as the Dallas Cowboys are in need of a full-scale review of where the franchise is and where it wants to go. With a plethora of talent available next year, such as Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty, it’s critical for struggling teams to find success and choose the correct player.
Though the Cowboys have improved some in recent weeks, the season as a whole has been a struggle. Both quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb were not signed until the very end of the offseason. The offense and defense have looked like shells of themselves from the year prior, and Prescott required surgery on his hamstring that will most likely cost him the remainder of the campaign.
Is Travis Hunter the Top Target for the Cowboys?
There is no doubting the elite and versatile athlete Hunter has been at the collegiate level and the impact he could potentially make on an NFL franchise. The Colorado Buffaloes’ star-dual threat athlete could become a pillar on offense or defense (or both) if drafted by the Jerry Jones-owned franchise.
However, there are some positional questions that need to be asked about whether Hunter truly does fit with the Cowboys.
At wide receiver, the Cowboys have their All-Pro wideout Lamb, who is one of the top pass catchers in the NFL. Though Hunter is a great receiver in his own right, Lamb has established himself as the building block of Dallas’ offense, something that would most likely not change even if Hunter was drafted.
Defensively, the Cowboys have solid options at cornerback, including All-Pro players Daron Bland and Trevon Diggs. Similar to the Lamb situation, though Hunter does possess amazing defensive abilities, cornerback is not one of the most pressing positions in need of upgrade for America’s Team.
Is Ashton Jeanty the Better Fit in Dallas?
Whereas Hunter may be the victim of top end talent in his respective positions, there is no question that the Cowboys are in need of RB help.
Enter Jeanty. The first-class running back out of Boise State is having one of the most prolific college seasons in history and could be the perfect fit for Dallas in next year’s draft.
This season, the Cowboys have used a mixture of Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dalvin Cook, which has resulted in a consistent inability to run the ball. Jeanty, who Pro Football Network’s Dalton Miller believes is more complete than Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson, has big-play ability and explosiveness, as well as being a strong receiving back.
Though both Hunter and Jeanty are phenomenal prospects who have the ability to be franchise-altering selections next year, the Cowboys seem to have a larger gap at running back than they do at receiver or defensive back.
In addition, Hunter is the projected No. 1 overall pick, something that would most likely require Jones to trade up for his services. As a result, it would make sense for Jones to target Jeanty in the 2025 NFL Draft.
