Slowly but surely, the Dallas Cowboys are giving fans a peak behind the curtain and a glimpse into their draft playbook this year. The ultra collaborative effort is a blend of ownership, scouting department and coaching staff input. Over the years the front office and scouting department have remained largely stable, leaving first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer as the only new kid on the block.
Schottenheimer hasn’t minced words when describing what the Cowboys offense will look like with him at the helm. Now less than a month away from the 2025 NFL draft, Schottenheimer is speaking plainly about Dallas' expectations for the No. 12 overall pick.
“You’re always looking for gamechangers when you’re picking 12…” Schottenheimer explained. “You’re looking for guys who influence the game. How do you influence the game? You rush the quarterback, and you get sacks, strip sacks, fumbles, whatever it is, you score touchdowns… I look at this way, you build it from the outside, in.”
Schottenheimer’s desire to build from the outside-in coupled with his immediate reference to sacks and the byproduct of said sacks implies defensive ends and edge players sit at the top of his list in the first round. The 2025 draft class just happens to feature a handful of edge pass rushers who have superstar star potential. It would make perfect sense if the Cowboys were thinking of going with an edge player at pick No. 12, especially when one considers Dallas’ DE situation beyond this season.
“You got corners and receivers, because they get isolated one-on-one,” the head coach explained. “Pass-rushers and tackles, they get isolated one-on-one.”
It seems the Cowboys have placed a premium on one-on-one situations this year. Populating the roster with players who can win in such situations, players like Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb, are the kind of gamechangers they’re looking for in the first round.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer on their goal with the 12th overall pick pic.twitter.com/otE4QheV2q
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 1, 2025
Luckily for the Cowboys, there are a number of prospects who qualify as outside gamechangers who will likely be on the board when Dallas goes on the clock on April 24. They’re names every Cowboys fan should get familiar with.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR
The 6-foot-4 Arizona WR is the most commonly linked player to Dallas on mock draft consensus boards presently. Playing the X ...
