2025 NFL Draft: 3 standouts from the NCAA opener Cowboys should keep tabs on
Football is back!
While we still wait for the NFL season to officially get underway this week, the NCAA season is already in full swing with Week 1 (plus Week 0) almost fully in the books. There are a lot of talented players doing their best to catch the the attention of scouting departments around the league, and others who are just trying to cement themselves as the best of the best this season.
Today, we are going to take a look at a few players who really stood out in the NCAA season opener, players the Dallas Cowboys should keep tabs on the remainder of the year in the possibility of selecting them in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. Each player listed below potentially plays a position of need in the next year for the Cowboys.
QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
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Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images
Whether the Dallas Cowboys decide to extend Dak Prescott or not, they should be deep diving into each and every one of these QB prospects expected to be available in next year’s 2025 NFL Draft. Either as a starter or a developmental project, it’s probably past time to start planning for the future beyond Dak and it’s doubtful Trey Lance is the answer.
Jalen Milroe started his Heisman candidacy off with a hot start in the NCAA opener against Western Kentucky. He completed seven of nine passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns through the air and also added 79 yards and two touchdowns on the ground with his legs. He finished with the best QBR (98.7) and passer rating (374.44) of any QB in the opener.
He’s somewhat similar to Dak in size (6’2″, 225), but is much more athletic and explosive as a dual threat QB. He’s currently projected to be a Day 2 or early Day 3 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, but may see his draft stock rise significantly if he continues to play the way he did in the season opener. He’s definitely someone to keep an eye on for Dallas next year.
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
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Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images
There is absolutely nothing about the Cowboys running back situation that suggest anyone really has a future with the team beyond the 2024 season. And despite the need they pretty much bypassed the position in the NFL Draft. Sooner or later they will strike and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if that happened in 2025.
Ashton Jeanty made sure he’s at the top of the Heisman watchlist after he completely dominated on the ground in the season opener against Georgia Southern. The Boise State RB rushed for 267 yards on 20 carries on the ground and scored a jaw-dropping six total touchdowns. His 267 rushing yards and six rushing TDs were both school records.
It’s common knowledge the Cowboys haven’t shied away from drafting players from Boise State and Ashton Jeanty could be the next to join the long list. The 5’9″, 215-pound may be just a little bit undersized from what they typically look for in their RB1, but there’s no doubt he has game, should be monitored closely the rest of the year.
CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
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Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images
Given the state of the Cowboys current roster and the positions they could be targeting next year in the 2025 NFL Draft, they could be once again looking for more cornerback and wide receiver help next year. Both positions go early and often when the draft gets underway, so spending a first-round pick at either position is plausible.
Right now, Travis Hunter is probably the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this year. As a two-way player at CB and WR, his elite athleticism and skill set are on full display each and every week. In the NCAA opener against North Dakota State he caught seven passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns and was equally effective on the defensive side of the ball.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys though, Travis Hunter is projected to be a Top 5 pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. Unless they completely collapse this year or if he happens to take a historic slide, he’s probably out of their reach. But, given the fact he’d be a significant upgrade at either CB or WR in Dallas he’s still someone to continue to watch closely.