As we await the Dallas Cowboys’ second game of the regular season against the New Orleans Saints, let’s take advantage of the calm before the storm and peek into the latest A to Z Sports’ 2025 NFL mock draft.
Listen, I know it’s only September but it’s never too early to start getting familiarized with some of these names. And the thing is the player that my colleague Ryan Roberts picked for the Cowboys is an electric one as he has Dallas taking the top player at one particular position:
Boise state running back Ashton Jeanty.
We’ll break it down but here’s Roberts’ reasoning for the Cowboys taking him to start:
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the weaker running back rooms in the entire league right now, still trotting out Ezekiel Elliot as their starting running back. They will need to upgrade that position, and that’s what Jeanty brings to the table. He has tremendous contact balance and vision, while also possessing big upside in the passing game.
When Roberts brings up Jeanty’s balance and vision, you’ve got to understand: It’s really special. Just take a look at the below clip, where Jeanty executes a spin, immediately followed by a sharp cut to his left, jukes another defender as he finds his way into the end zone.
In the below clip, Jeanty’s elite balance is in display as Oregon defenders try to bring him down, but he just seems to bounce off of them while continuing to run north. These are the kind of plays that have him in the discussion to be a first rounder come April of 2025.
The Cowboys will be in need for a running back in 2025
Heck, the Cowboys could use one now, but that’s a topic for another article. Picking running backs in the first round has become quite the controversial topic around the NFL and for good reason. It’s simply not a premium position and the shelf life for players at the position is shorter than others.
Personally, I’d rather the Cowboys invest in other positions, including offensive line and wide receiver (Zack Martin might be retiring soon). However, it’s easy to fall in love with Jeanty’s play style and if it’s late in the first, I find it hard to believe fans would be truly disappointed.
With that being said, it’s way too early to take these mocks as true predictions of what a team might or might not do. For now, let’s enjoy the regular season.