2025 Draft Big Boards, Position Rankings, and Mocks

[Bipo]

Two firsts for a guy pushing 30

Dan Parr 2025 NFL mock draft 1.0: Cowboys' blockbuster deal among three first-round trades

I'd expect idiocy like this 100x more than some good free agency adds.

 

[data]

Walter Nolen (unless his arms are too short)

Interesting that this is your dealbreaker. Maybe you’re interested in putting this together. What are the arm measurements (at least the shortest) for Pro Bowlers the last 5 years?

Cam Heyward
Chris Jones
Madubuike
Quinnen Willliams
Jeffrey Simmons
Dexter Lawrence
Jalen Carter
Vita Vea
Leonard Williams
Deforest Buckner
Javon Hargrave
Derrick Brown
Kenny Clark
Aaron Donald
Jonathan Allen
Daron Payne
Fletcher Cox
Grady Jarrett

Mazi has 33.75”

 

[Simpleton]

Plus we are about to run a lot of zone defense. You don't draft zone corners in the first round. It's a well known fact.

The Eagles just did.

I'd much rather go elsewhere but if Jeanty and McMillan are off the board he'd almost certainly be the BPA, and he's a playmaker at that (3 pick 6's).

I'm hoping he goes before we pick, and if Jeanty/McMillan are gone and he's available I'd want to trade down, but there's a case to be made to take him if we make a selection at 12.

 

[Simpleton]

We always slap lipstick on the pig and claim we're improving the defense

I love adding a great CB, but not without first addressing the rot that is DT. And if we commit big $$ to a non-run defender like Odighizuwa we'll absolutely need to double down on an interior DL rotation.

It's been 30 years since we were good here, fix this FFS!

McMillen, Jeanty
Walter Nolen (unless his arms are too short)
Luther Burden 3 if he runs 4.4

I'd substitute Harmon for Nolen and Golden (if he runs a 4.4 or better) for Burden.

Nolen is similar to Osa, explosive rushing the passer, kind of meh vs. the run. Harmon is also very explosive as a rusher but holds up much better against the run.

Nolen and Osa would certainly be a heck of an interior rushing duo though.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

The Eagles just did.

I'd much rather go elsewhere but if Jeanty and McMillan are off the board he'd almost certainly be the BPA, and he's a playmaker at that (3 pick 6's).

I'm hoping he goes before we pick, and if Jeanty/McMillan are gone and he's available I'd want to trade down, but there's a case to be made to take him if we make a selection at 12.

If the Eagles jumped off a bridge would you?

But seriously, I think it would be silly to draft a corner in the first who is going to play almost entirely zone defense. Especially when you have Diggs and Bland on the roster. The only argument to do it is that a couple years down the road we may run a different defense and Diggs may not be with the team any longer. Beyond that, to me it's a waste of resources. Teams like the Eagles can afford to waste resources because they invest so heavily. Dallas doesn't.

So to me you look at your scheme and what positions are the most important and hardest to find. I think corners that can play in this defense, are relatively easy to find. Getting the Buckner's of the world to play up front is the real key to success. The key to success of the Eagles defense was the pressure they generate against the Chiefs. Sure they had a first and second round rookie corner in the secondary but it was the harassing of Mahomes that did the real work.

Anyway, I won't cry if we draft Will Johnson. But I'll view it as a minimal impact move. A fun player who I like. But one that offenses can easily scheme around unlike a stud DT or DE.

 

[Genghis Khan]

If the Eagles jumped off a bridge would you?

Would I what? Celebrate?

Yes.

 

[Simpleton]

If the Eagles jumped off a bridge would you?

But seriously, I think it would be silly to draft a corner in the first who is going to play almost entirely zone defense. Especially when you have Diggs and Bland on the roster. The only argument to do it is that a couple years down the road we may run a different defense and Diggs may not be with the team any longer. Beyond that, to me it's a waste of resources. Teams like the Eagles can afford to waste resources because they invest so heavily. Dallas doesn't.

So to me you look at your scheme and what positions are the most important and hardest to find. I think corners that can play in this defense, are relatively easy to find. Getting the Buckner's of the world to play up front is the real key to success. The key to success of the Eagles defense was the pressure they generate against the Chiefs. Sure they had a first and second round rookie corner in the secondary but it was the harassing of Mahomes that did the real work.

Anyway, I won't cry if we draft Will Johnson. But I'll view it as a minimal impact move. A fun player who I like. But one that offenses can easily scheme around unlike a stud DT or DE.

I don't totally disagree, I'm just saying I think there is still value in taking a CB with playmaker skills if they're the clear BPA if the board is otherwise bare.

Again, I'd prefer to trade down, but if Jeanty/McMillan (and maybe Warren) are gone and we have to pick at 12, Johnson would almost definitely be the BPA.

It might also then make sense to move off of Diggs while extending Bland.

I don't necessarily think we should do that but in this scenario it'd be a sensible option to consider.

 

[ravidubey]

Interesting that this is your dealbreaker. Maybe you’re interested in putting this together. What are the arm measurements (at least the shortest) for Pro Bowlers the last 5 years?

Cam Heyward
Chris Jones
Madubuike
Quinnen Willliams
Jeffrey Simmons
Dexter Lawrence
Jalen Carter
Vita Vea
Leonard Williams
Deforest Buckner
Javon Hargrave
Derrick Brown
Kenny Clark
Aaron Donald
Jonathan Allen
Daron Payne
Fletcher Cox
Grady Jarrett

Mazi has 33.75”

Player	Estimated Arm Length (inches)

Cam Heyward

34.5"

Chris Jones

34.5"

Justin Madubuike

33.5"

Quinnen Williams

33.25"

Jeffrey Simmons

34.0"

Dexter Lawrence

34.75"

Jalen Carter

33.5"

Vita Vea

32.6"

Leonard Williams

34.6"

DeForest Buckner

34.75"

Javon Hargrave

32.38"

Derrick Brown

34.25"

Kenny Clark

32.38"

Aaron Donald

32.6"

Jonathan Allen

33.6"

Daron Payne

33.75"

Fletcher Cox

34.0"

Grady Jarrett

32.88"

Thank you, ChatGPT

So, more important for the projected pass rushers than run stuffers, but since we're drafting so high I think we want both skills

 

[Cowboysrock55]

We always slap lipstick on the pig and claim we're improving the defense

I love adding a great CB, but not without first addressing the rot that is DT. And if we commit big $$ to a non-run defender like Odighizuwa we'll absolutely need to double down on an interior DL rotation.

It's been 30 years since we were good here, fix this FFS!

McMillen, Jeanty
Walter Nolen (unless his arms are too short)
Luther Burden 3 if he runs 4.4

Nolan is 33 5/8 is that ok or too short?

I'm more worried about his attitude and work ethic than arm length.

 

[Bipo]

Don't forget, Diggs could be done. Another major leg injury.

 

[Simpleton]

Nolan is 33 5/8 is that ok or too short?

I'm more worried about his attitude and work ethic than arm length.

Pretty much anything over 33-33.5 is good so that's fine.

With that said, Nolen isn't doing much to stuff the run, so I hope people know that going in.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Pretty much anything over 33-33.5 is good so that's fine.

With that said, Nolen isn't doing much to stuff the run, so I hope people know that going in.

Yeah he is a penetrative 3 technique who I think lacks a plan. I've seen him look awesome. But he is inconsistent.

 

[Bipo]

Pretty much anything over 33-33.5 is good so that's fine.

With that said, Nolen isn't doing much to stuff the run, so I hope people know that going in.

In theory, he would be the perfect DT to pair with Maxi.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

In theory, he would be the perfect DT to pair with Maxi.

Yeah I mean we have a top of the line Dline coach. If Mazi doesn't take another step forward it may be move on time.

 

[Simpleton]

In theory, he would be the perfect DT to pair with Maxi.

I'd rather resign Osa and draft someone like Nolen (or Harmon or somebody in the 2nd/3rd in this deep DT class), that would actually be a potentially legit rotation along with some JAG vet fatass who is decent against the run.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'll be a dreamer and hope we get someone better than Mazi to start.

 

[Simpleton]

I'll be a dreamer and hope we get someone better than Mazi to start.

I doubt a rookie is going to beat him out in terms of being a 2-down run stuffer unless we take someone like Harmon or Grant in the first, or if Tyleik Williams fall to us in the 2nd.

Other than that you're looking at pass rushing types or 3rd round types.

At this point I'd be happy with Osa, Mazi, a rookie who can play like 50% of the snaps, and another rotational run stuffer.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I doubt a rookie is going to beat him out in terms of being a 2-down run stuffer unless we take someone like Harmon or Grant in the first, or if Tyleik Williams fall to us in the 2nd.

Other than that you're looking at pass rushing types or 3rd round types.

At this point I'd be happy with Osa, Mazi, a rookie who can play like 50% of the snaps, and another rotational run stuffer.

That's the thing. You don't want Mazi or Osa playing that many snaps. Your third DT is going to get nearly as many snaps as one of your starters. Preferably a guy who can play next to Mazi on run downs and next to Osa on passing downs. To me Harmon can do both. I'm still very high on him even though rankings seem to have pushed him outside the top 15.

Some have him as a NT but he isn't one of these 1 sack guys. He had 5 sacks and a ton of pressures. He can do more than just stuff the run. But yet he can stuff the run.

 

[Simpleton]

That's the thing. You don't want Mazi or Osa playing that many snaps. Your third DT is going to get nearly as many snaps as one of your starters. Preferably a guy who can play next to Mazi on run downs and next to Osa on passing downs. To me Harmon can do both. I'm still very high on him even though rankings seem to have pushed him outside the top 15.

So.e have him as a NT but he isn't one of these 1 sack guys. He had 5 sacks and a ton of pressures. He can do more than just stuff the run. But yet he can stuff the run.

He's still one of my top guys at 12, but I also like Grant and Nolen well enough and would rather have an extra 2 or 3 and one of them (or even Harmon himself) after trading down.

It just feels like there isn't much value at 12 outside of Jeanty, McMillan, Warren and yes, Will Johnson (pending Combine). I really like guys like Green and Harmon but taking them at 12 feels unnecessary when you can trade down and probably still get one of them, or someone similar enough like Nolen, Grant or Pearce.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

He's still one of my top guys at 12, but I also like Grant and Nolen well enough and would rather have an extra 2 or 3 and one of them (or even Harmon himself) after trading down.

It just feels like there isn't much value at 12 outside of Jeanty, McMillan, Warren and yes, Will Johnson (pending Combine). I really like guys like Green and Harmon but taking them at 12 feels unnecessary when you can trade down and probably still get one of them, or someone similar enough like Nolen, Grant or Pearce.

I hate to just blanket say, I want to trade down, but outside something crazy happening, I want to trade down. I see no shot at guys like Hunter, Graham, McMillan or Carter. I'm hesitant to put Jeanty in that group even though I really love him. Otherwise I just want to trade down. We need more picks. And I can get a stud RB with the extra pick you give me potentially. And still get a stellar DT, DE or WR in the first.

And I really like Warren too. But I'm not sure I like him enough to take a TE even though it's one of the lowest priorities on my list. If we trade down and he is still available, then I'm way more comfortable. Because that extra pick allows you to sort of take some luxury positions.