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Jerry Jones earns flowers for Cowboys' Shedeur Sanders-less NFL Draft haul

The Sporting News's profile
The Sporting News
11h ago

The 2025 NFL Draft was a pivotal moment for the Dallas Cowboys, with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner Jerry Jones under scrutiny. Despite the availability of high-profile quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Jones and the Cowboys opted for steady, sensible picks, including Alabama guard Tyler Booker and edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku. The draft strategy focused on practical selections that enhanced the team's depth, such as East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel, Texas running back Jaydon Blue, Oregon tackle Ajani Cornelius, and Clemson running back Phil Mafah. This approach was praised by experts, with Sporting News' Bill Bender naming the Cowboys as draft winners. The emphasis on logical and needs-based selections marked a departure from previous, more flashy drafts under Jones' leadership.

Jerry Jones earns flowers for Cowboys' Shedeur Sanders-less NFL Draft haul

The Dallas Cowboys faced significant attention during the 2025 NFL Draft, largely due to the leadership change with Brian Schottenheimer as the new head coach and Jerry Jones' growing impatience for success.

Amidst expectations, the Cowboys chose not to draft high-profile quarterback Shedeur Sanders, instead focusing on strengthening their roster with practical selections.

Their first-round picks included Alabama guard Tyler Booker and edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, both seen as solid, consistent players who could immediately contribute.

The Cowboys continued their logical draft approach by selecting East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel, as well as Texas running back Jaydon Blue and Oregon tackle Ajani Cornelius in later rounds.

Clemson power running back Phil Mafah was another strategic addition in the seventh round, rounding out a draft focused on addressing team needs without unnecessary risks.

This practical draft strategy was well-received, with experts like Bill Bender of Sporting News highlighting the Cowboys as one of the draft's success stories.

The draft marked a shift from Jerry Jones' previous preference for flashy picks, signaling a new era of calculated decision-making under Schottenheimer's guidance.

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a lots of eyes on them. Well, the Cowboys always have a lot of eyes on them. 

With Brian Schottenheimer replacing Mike McCarthy as head coach and Jerry Jones' patience running thin, this was an important draft. 

Sure, Shedeur Sanders was there multiple times for the Cowboys, but Jones didn't roll the dice. In the end, Sporting News' Bill Bender had the Cowboys as one of the winners of the draft. 

"Perhaps surprisingly, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn't go for the flash of drafting Shedeur Sanders. Instead, Dallas took Alabama guard Tyler Booker in the first round and edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, one of the most-consistent pass rushers in the FBS. East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel also had some first-round grades. Dallas added Texas running back Jaydon Blue and Oregon tackle Ajani Cornelius as Day 3 picks. The finishing touch was Clemson power running back Phil Mafah in the seventh round. This was a no-frills, make-sense draft for first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer. "

Can you believe Jones didn't select Sanders? Can you believe that the Cowboys made logical picks time and time again? Well, here we are. 

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