Quick reaction Draft grades

One year starter at OU, so we knew he'd be a bit of a project. But yeah, needs to take a leap this year or else we move on.
 
bbgun said:
One year starter at OU, so we knew he'd be a bit of a project.
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And the same thing happened there, benched for mysterious reasons.

His OL coach really spoke up for him, too. That could be just a coach talking up his player for recruiting, etc., but he's a very respected OL coach so I assume he gives the straight story to coaches and scouts in the league.

Definitely concerning, though. It'd be a shame if something mentally holds him back because he has plenty of talent.
 
Chocolate Lab said:
And the same thing happened there, benched for mysterious reasons.

His OL coach really spoke up for him, too. That could be just a coach talking up his player for recruiting, etc., but he's a very respected OL coach so I assume he gives the straight story to coaches and scouts in the league.

Definitely concerning, though. It'd be a shame if something mentally holds him back because he has plenty of talent.
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I think there were issues with injuries and him maybe not dealing with the injuries the best. There were some comments during the season about this.

Physically he is about as gifted as you can get at LT. But he is raw. There were still obvious technique issues. The thing I noticed most was he has no problem blocking the corner against speed. But when guys started outside and then broke inside across him he would always get called for holding. Some of it seemed questionable to me but he needs to find a better way to deal with that particular move by DEs.
 
Simpleton said:
…and then we can figure something out at RT long-term, maybe Don Cornelius for all we know given his starting experience.
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Who?

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boozeman said:
12) DALLAS COWBOYS: G TYLER BOOKER, ALABAMA
Pick Grade: Below Average

Zack Martin’s retirement in March left a hole on the Cowboys’ interior offensive line. Booker, the 48th-ranked prospect on the PFF Big Board, profiles as a bit of a reach but a talent who fills a definite need up front in Dallas. The Alabama guard earned an 86.5 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024, which will provide an instant boost to a Cowboys offense that ranked 23rd in PFF pass-blocking grade (62.1) this past season.
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Cowboysrock55 said:
From PFF

Dallas Cowboys: A+
1 (12): G Tyler Booker, Alabama

Booker — Zack Martin’s retirement in March left a hole on the Cowboys’ interior offensive line. Booker, the 48th-ranked prospect on the PFF Big Board, profiles as a bit of a reach but a talent who fills a definite need up front in Dallas. The Alabama guard earned an 86.5 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024, which will provide an instant boost to a Cowboys offense that ranked 23rd in PFF pass-blocking grade (62.1) this past season.

2 (44): ED Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

Ezeiruaku — Situated at 17 on the PFF Big Board, Ezeiruaku profiles as a significant value for the Cowboys here. The Boston College standout maintains a solid grading profile, particularly against true pass sets, where he clocked the most snaps of any edge rusher in the 2025 class (196), earning a 90.7 PFF pass-rushing grade and a 25.8% pass rush win rate.

3 (76): CB Shavon Revel, East Carolina

Revel — Shavon Revel was the No. 44 player on the PFF Big Board, so his selection represents great value for the Cowboys at No. 76. Revel is a tall outside corner with back-to-back seasons with coverage grades above 80 (80.5 in 2023 and 84.0 in 2024).

5 (149): RB Jaydon Blue, Texas

Blue — The Cowboys finally address the running back position and get solid value with Jaydon Blue. After two seasons being stuck behind elite running back talent at Texas, Blue got his chance to be the featured back. Blue struggled with fumbles a bit, putting the ball on the ground four times while losing three of them. However, he showcased some elusiveness, forcing 37 missed tackles on 140 rushing attempts.

5 (152): LB Shemar James, Florida

James — The Cowboys have question marks at the linebacker spot, and Shemar James brings a lot of experience to the table, logging over 1,000 career snaps over three seasons, though with mixed results. His PFF coverage grade dropped to 46.5 last season after he posted an impressive 75.2 figure in 2023. On the other hand, he set a career high with a 68.4 PFF run-defense grade in his final year, registering 14 run stops and forcing a fumble.

6 (204): T Ajani Cornelius, Oregon

Cornelius — In three seasons as a starter, Cornelius allowed just four total sacks and 35 pressures on 1,466 pass-blocking snaps.

7 (217): DI Jay Toia, UCLA

Toia — At 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, Toia is very difficult to move, as evidenced by his 70.0 run-defense grade this past season. He still has work to do as a pass rusher, but his 22 total pressures in 2024 nearly tripled his combined total from the previous three years.

7 (239): RB Phil Mafah, Clemson

Mafah — The Cowboys select a big power back in Mafah, who provides an option in short-yardage situations. He gained 3.24 yards after contact per attempt in 2024.

7 (247): DI Tommy Akingbesote, Maryland
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Wait, didn't they call the Booker pick below average. How do you go from that to A+?

PFF is such a joke.
 
Cowboysrock55 said:
I think because of rounds 2 and three where they had us picking guys way lower than their rankings?
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Yes, but that's enough to elevate a draft to an A+ after their most important pick was below average? That doesn't make sense to me.

Maybe a B or so, sure. But an A+ implies a pretty perfect draft and the 1st rounder was below average according to them.
 
Genghis Khan said:
Yes, but that's enough to elevate a draft to an A+ after their most important pick was below average? That doesn't make sense to me.

Maybe a B or so, sure. But an A+ implies a pretty perfect draft and the 1st rounder was below average according to them.
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Yeah I don't agree with their ranking at all just to be clear. I'm just guessing that was the reason. I don't care for PFF in general anyway.
 
Simpleton said:
If Guyton can just become an above average starter we're going to be nearing "Great Wall" territory on the OL.

Smith is already a Pro Bowler, I'm certain Beebe will make one or two, and I'm confident that Booker will as well. We should have one of the best, if not the best interior OL's in the league for the next 6-8 years.

My big concern is Guyton, he showed some promise but at times he looked like he could be a flakey washout. I'm still optimistic, but we just need him to end up decent and then we can figure something out at RT long-term, maybe Don Cornelius for all we know given his starting experience.
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Asim Richards needs a chance and he’ll replace Steele.
 
We very clearly have new coaches Looking at the offensive line with new eyes. Pretty clear that they looked at the existing IOL group with a collective “meh.”

They‘ve done the evaluation portion. Now they need to do the development.
 
GShock said:
We very clearly have new coaches Looking at the offensive line with new eyes. Pretty clear that they looked at the existing IOL group with a collective “meh.”

They‘ve done the evaluation portion. Now they need to do the development.
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We draft an Olineman on day three every year. Most years we draft an Olineman in the first. It's been a tradition long before this coaching staff.
 
I wanted to ask him, would you still think Javonte Williams is the answer if he'd gone to Duke?
 
CNNSI

3. Dallas Cowboys
Grade: B+

• Round 1: No. 12: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
• Round 2: No. 44: Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge, Boston College
• Round 3: No. 76: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
• Round 5: No. 149: Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
• Round 5: No. 152: Shemar James, LB, Florida
• Round 6: No. 204: Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
• Round 7: No. 217: Jay Toia, DT, UCLA
• Round 7: No. 239: Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson
• Round 7: No. 247: Tommy Akingbesote, DT, Maryland

The Cowboys have had plenty of success drafting offensive lineman in the first round. That’s a good sign for Booker, who will replace the retired Zack Martin, one of the best draft picks ever for the Jones family. With Booker, the Cowboys could once again have one of the best offensive lines in the league, which will benefit their stagnant running game. Perhaps the team did enough there, drafting Blue and Mafah.

In a few years, Revel could end up being the best draft pick from this Cowboys’ class. He’s a first-round talent who would have gone a lot higher if it wasn’t for the injury history. As for another position the Cowboys know well, Ezeiruaku could be the team’s latest standout edge rusher.
 
bbgun said:
CNNSI

3. Dallas Cowboys
Grade: B+

• Round 1: No. 12: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
• Round 2: No. 44: Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge, Boston College
• Round 3: No. 76: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
• Round 5: No. 149: Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
• Round 5: No. 152: Shemar James, LB, Florida
• Round 6: No. 204: Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
• Round 7: No. 217: Jay Toia, DT, UCLA
• Round 7: No. 239: Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson
• Round 7: No. 247: Tommy Akingbesote, DT, Maryland

The Cowboys have had plenty of success drafting offensive lineman in the first round. That’s a good sign for Booker, who will replace the retired Zack Martin, one of the best draft picks ever for the Jones family. With Booker, the Cowboys could once again have one of the best offensive lines in the league, which will benefit their stagnant running game. Perhaps the team did enough there, drafting Blue and Mafah.

In a few years, Revel could end up being the best draft pick from this Cowboys’ class. He’s a first-round talent who would have gone a lot higher if it wasn’t for the injury history. As for another position the Cowboys know well, Ezeiruaku could be the team’s latest standout edge rusher.
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B+ seems fair to me. I'm not sure about #3 overall draft. Ultimately if we can nail 3 or 4 starters out of this draft that's pretty huge. As a team that builds almost soley through the draft that's what you need to do. I'm sure there will be some day three misses. And I've mentioned that Booker may have been a bit of a reach. But ultimately if Booker, EZ and Revel end up starters here that's a pretty good draft. And I think there is potential in all three of those guys to be probowl caliber.

And we got a little of everything on day three. Blue is the obvious choice for a guy who could have a big impact on the offense. But I think that's a nice shotgun approach of players that you want in rounds 5, 6 and 7 of the draft. It's unfortunate that we didn't have a fourth round pick but we have a chance to find some real players among those day three picks.
 
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