2025 NFL Draft Chatter

[Chocolate Lab]

Flipping around the TV this morning, there's some PFT Live show interviewing a bunch of top prospects and my Gawd, Florio and especially Simms are insufferable suckups to these guys. I mean, to an embarrassing degree. Someone tell Simms that when you get past a certain suckup point, people actually lose respect for you.

Anyway, a few interviews I liked were Hunter and Jeanty. Ward is country but likable, and seemed to genuinely like football. Sanders was a no for me, didn't come off as the brightest guy IMO. He talked about living a privileged life when he was young, then his dad moving them to the inner city and that's when he developed his "dawg." Does anyone know that story? I find it hard to believe Deion moved them from his palatial estate in Prosper to the inner city. Why would he do that?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Touches on some of my concerns, primarily around his general lack of refinement as a route runner, his releases, etc.

Supposedly our WR coach is great at developing guys so I'm not too concerned about it, but this is why I could easily see Golden going before McMillan.

When he says best case scenario is Drake London I sort of roll my eyes. McShay has never been a good evaluator. And he is definitely a better jump ball receiver than London coming out of college. Despite what McShay says.

Anyway, not disagreeing with what you're saying but McShay is an idiot.

 

[Foobio]

The 5 worst Dallas Cowboys draft picks of the Jerry Jones era: busts, what-ifs and more
Taco Charlton over TJ Watt? Here are the lowlights of Jones’ tenure as owner of the Cowboys.



Apr. 18, 2024
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Updated Apr. 5, 2025

The Dallas Cowboys No. 1 draft pick defensive end Taco Charlton, center, poses for a photos with team owner Jerry Jones, left, and head coach Jason Garret during a news conference at the team's football headquarters in Frisco, Texas, Friday, April 28, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero)(LM Otero / AP)
Update:
This post originally published on April 18, 2024. With the 2025 NFL draft fast approaching, we're bringing it back.
When you’ve been in the football business as long as Jerry Jones, you have to take the bad with the good. Let’s take a look back at the worst draft picks in the Jerry Jones era.
Click here to see the 5 best draft picks by the Cowboys in the Jerry Jones era.
Q&A: Cowboys' Stephen Jones talks NFL free agency, WRsQ&A: Cowboys' Stephen Jones talks NFL free agency, WRs
David LaFleur

8/22/97--Dallas tight end David LaFleur (89) fumbles after catching a Troy Aikman pass in the first quarter, as Tennessee defenders Rayna Stewart (26) and Marcus Robertson apply the hit. (Taken 8/22/97) (Louis DeLuca / Staff)
Draft: 1997, first round, 22nd overall
Some very productive tight ends have played for the Cowboys through the years.David LaFleur was not among them. The Cowboys used their first-round pick in the 1997 draft on LaFleur with the hope he would pick up where Jay Novacek left off. He was big, strong and a first-team All-American at LSU. He had promise.
It never materialized.
LaFleur’s size proved to be a detriment as a receiver. He was more lumbering than elusive and never caught a pass that went for more than 25 yards during his NFL career. LaFleur’s four seasons with the Cowboys were the only four years he spent in the NFL. He finished with 85 receptions for 729 yards and 12 touchdowns. Despite starting 44 games, LaFleur gained more than 200 yards in a season only once.
Shante Carver

8/6/95---Dallas Cowboys defensive end Shante Carver (96) runs down Oakland Raiders runningback Napoleon Kaufman (26-left) during a second half action from the teams' pre- season game at Texas Stadium Saturday night. (STAFF)
Draft: 1994, first round, 23rd overall
Position: Defensive end
Nine years after taking Kevin Brooks in the first round, Carver didn’t provide much more of an impact. He also played for four seasons and finished with 11.5 sacks. Like Brooks, he never forced a fumble.
His biggest impact came with the Dallas Desperados in the Arena Football League after playing for the Memphis Maniax of the XFL once his career with the Cowboys was over.
Bobby Carpenter

Game 12-Giants 31, Cowboys 24: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter (54) gets a face full from New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) during their game at Giants Stadium on Dec. 6, 2009.(Tom Fox)
Draft: 2006, first round, 18th overall
Position: Linebacker
The Cowboys saw something in Carpenter that few, if any, other NFL teams did and believed he could play inside in a 3-4 defense. Carpenter’s game was based more upon speed and pass coverages than point-of-attack strength, and he was ill-equipped for the role.
The blame falls upon the Cowboys’ scouting department, not Carpenter. Coach Wade Phillips found a role for Carpenter in 2009. Used primarily in pass-coverage situations, Carpenter had two sacks and participated in 46 tackles. In his first three seasons combined, Carpenter had only 1 ½ sacks while participating in 50 tackles. He was traded to the Rams in 2010.
Taco Charlton

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Taco Charlton (97) sits on the sideline during the first quarter of an NFL game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)
Draft: 2017 first round, 28th overall
Position: Defensive end
Had little to no impact on the team. The Cowboys took him over TJ Watt — even though they considered Watt more talented — because he better fit the template of a DE in the scheme the team employed in 2017.
Charlton’s selection was something of a turning point in these days, where the club now says go with the best player and tweak the system. In two seasons with the Cowboys, Charlton recorded four sacks and started seven games. He played for four other teams after being released by Dallas in 2019, and in 2024 signed with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions.
Dwayne Goodrich

Eagles Duce Staley trots in for an Eagles touchdown as Cowboys Dwayne Goodrich dives but can not make the tackle in the first quarter against Philly.(MICHAEL MULVEY / FILE)
Draft: 2000, second round, 49th overall
Position: Cornerback
Goodrich was a bust on the field and a tragic figure off it.
On Jan. 14, 2003, Goodrich was involved in a hit-and-run accident in which two men who were trying to help another motorist on I-35 E were killed. Goodrich was sentenced to a 12.5-year combined sentence for vehicular homicide and failure to stop and render aid and was eventually released Oct. 2011.
Goodrich was the Cowboys’ first pick of the 2000 draft. It was a puzzling pick in light of his limited success in college. Goodrich had trouble getting on the field for the Cowboys. In two seasons with the club, he made only one start and appeared in just 16 games.
Goodrich’s troubles set the tone for what became a cursed draft class. The Cowboys had only five picks in 2000. Just one of the selections, cornerback Mario Edwards, found meaningful playing time for more than three years in the NFL.
More ahead of the 2025 draft:
— Will Stephen Jones’ ‘selectively aggressive’ free agency impact Cowboys’ draft strategy?
— Dallas Cowboys draft breakdown: A look at key wide receiver prospects in 2025 class
—2025 NFL mock draft roundup: Which prospect could Dallas Cowboys take at No. 12?
—This isn’t Brian Schottenheimer’s first roster-building rodeo. His Cowboys methods show it
— Calvin Watkins’ 2025 NFL mock draft 2.0: Cowboys take an offensive playmaker on Day 1
— 2025 NFL draft central: How to watch, what to know before Dallas Cowboys make their picks
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

 

[boozeman]

Alright, what idiot team is going to reach for him?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Alright, what idiot team is going to reach for him?

You have to figure some NFL team is considering him in the first if he got an invite.

Which is crazy. Like Tim Tebow going in the first crazy. Some coach drafting him strictly because his running ability is elite.

 

[Simpleton]

Alright, what idiot team is going to reach for him?

Let's hope someone in the NFC, but feels like Jets or Steelers would make the most sense.

 

[boozeman]

Let's hope someone in the NFC, but feels like Jets or Steelers would make the most sense.

The Jets are a funny one to me.

Tootie plus Milroe?

Are they planning on running a college offense?

 

[bbgun]

we gonna force the issue at 12

 

[Simpleton]

we gonna force the issue at 12

I don't think taking either McMillan or Golden would be pushing it, and one of them will definitely be there at 12, if not both. They could conceivably decide to take Egbuka or Burden instead, but that wouldn't be "reaching" as much as having a poor evaluation of those guys vs. McMillan or Golden, in my opinion at least.

 

[bbgun]

I don't think taking either McMillan or Golden would be pushing it

Depends on where both guys are ranked on their big board. Maybe they have Stewart at 10 and Golden at 20. If both guys are there at 12, they'll have a real dilemma.

 

[Simpleton]

Depends on where both guys are ranked on their big board. Maybe they have Stewart at 10 and Golden at 20. If both guys are there at 12, they'll have a real dilemma.

Sure, although in my opinion a guy like Golden should be in the 15ish range in front of most of the guys who I expect to be there at 12, including Stewart.

So that's why I don't think taking either McMillan or Golden would be a stretch at 12.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I don't think taking either McMillan or Golden would be pushing it, and one of them will definitely be there at 12, if not both. They could conceivably decide to take Egbuka or Burden instead, but that wouldn't be "reaching" as much as having a poor evaluation of those guys vs. McMillan or Golden, in my opinion at least.

I at least see the argument for Egbuka. He is just really good at everything and very polished. I prefer the upside of Golden and McMillan to him but I could see the safe sure bet of Egbuka. He steps in day one and you have zero concerns about him being your number 2 WR. Good route runner, good size, good blocker, gets open, has good run after the catch. He really has a high floor in my opinion. Even down to, he is comfortable playing second fiddle to another WR and can basically line up at any of the WR positions in order to compliment Lamb.

With that being said I mentioned a lot of good. But I look at McMillan and there are special jump ball abilities, rare size and run after the catch for a guy that size. Golden has rare speed, quickness and feel for getting open. And the floor doesn't feel low to either of those guys in my book.

Burden, feels like a low floor and high ceiling guy. Too risky for my blood in the first. I wouldn't feel comfortable at all with him in the first round. I haven't seen the route running. I haven't seen the great hands and range catching the ball.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think we're going to trade down, though. So you can get one of those guys -- though not TMac or Golden -- at, say, 18.

In fact as much as I like someone like Golden, I think I'd rather have Egbuka and another pick instead. Burden I'm not so sure about. Actually, I'm very dubious on him.

Edit, dangit C-Rock, that almost counted as a timestamp.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Depends on where both guys are ranked on their big board. Maybe they have Stewart at 10 and Golden at 20. If both guys are there at 12, they'll have a real dilemma.

Your first problem is having Stewart at 10 on your board.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Sure, although in my opinion a guy like Golden should be in the 15ish range in front of most of the guys who I expect to be there at 12, including Stewart.

So that's why I don't think taking either McMillan or Golden would be a stretch at 12.

Can you list 14 guys you'd rather have than Golden in this draft? I can't. Honestly he'd be in my top 12. But there are guys that are going in this draft in the top 11 who I wouldn't take with the Cowboys pick. I wouldn't have Sanders or Ward in the top 10 for me for example. Sure there are the obvious guys like Jeanty, Carter, Graham and Hunter. But who are the next 8 names?

 

[Simpleton]

Can you list 14 guys you'd rather have than Golden in this draft? I can't. Honestly he'd be in my top 12. But there are guys that are going in this draft in the top 11 who I wouldn't take with the Cowboys pick. I wouldn't have Sanders or Ward in the top 10 for me for example. Sure there are the obvious guys like Jeanty, Carter, Graham and Hunter. But who are the next 8 names?

He'd be in my top 12-14 although I think that there's enough variation that it's very possible, if not likely, that we could trade down and still get him.

I don't see many teams between 12 and 20 who I think are likely to take a WR, and you can flat out rule several out from even considering it (Dolphins, Bengals, Bucs and probably even the Cardinals).

 

[Cowboysrock55]

He'd be in my top 12-14 although I think that there's enough variation that it's very possible, if not likely, that we could trade down and still get him.

I don't see many teams between 12 and 20 who I think are likely to take a WR, and you can flat out rule several out from even considering it (Dolphins, Bengals, Bucs and probably even the Cardinals).

Yeah I think there will be a lot of variation. Because outside of the 4 guys I listed, I could see a team having a few Olineman up there that I wouldn't. After the top 4 names, the next group are guys you kind of feel could would go in 15-20 range in other drafts. So then it's just a lot of preference in that next group. Some teams will have Mykel Williams and Stewart in their top 10. Some teams will have them as second round picks.

McMillan feels like he belongs in that group of 4 but too many major mocks have him outside the top 10 so I won't include him. Hell even Ward who should go #1 might have been QB4 last year. So there is going to be a lot of variation in this draft between boards.

 

[NoDak]

Can you list 14 guys you'd rather have than Golden in this draft? I can't. Honestly he'd be in my top 12. But there are guys that are going in this draft in the top 11 who I wouldn't take with the Cowboys pick. I wouldn't have Sanders or Ward in the top 10 for me for example. Sure there are the obvious guys like Jeanty, Carter, Graham and Hunter. But who are the next 8 names?

I’d rather have Golden or McMillan over Jeanty. The depth and quality of those two positions plays a major factor.

 

[bbgun]

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I’d rather have Golden or McMillan over Jeanty. The depth and quality of those two positions plays a major factor.

So this is a tricky one for me. If I were to make a draft board purely on ability I'd probably have Jeanty above those two. But if I look at the big picture of the draft and the insane amount of depth at RB, those WR's might be close enough to Jeanty that I'd say, I'll take the WR now and circle back to RB later. But for those who are pure, best player available, that kind of flies in the face of it.

Of course in this draft if I took purely BPA I might be taking a RB with every draft pick. Although D-line might not be far behind that for me.