20250304_kk_draft

Draft Selections
Walter Nolen Head Shot
PICK: 27 RND: 1 (DAL)
Walter Nolen
DT Ole Miss
Kaleb Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 44 RND: 2 (DAL)
Kaleb Johnson
RB Iowa
Deone Walker Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (DAL)
Deone Walker
DT Kentucky
Jayden Higgins Head Shot
PICK: 80 RND: 3 (DAL)
Jayden Higgins
WR Iowa State
Fadil Diggs Head Shot
PICK: 136 RND: 4 (DAL)
Fadil Diggs
DL-EDGE Syracuse
Cody Simon Head Shot
PICK: 150 RND: 5 (DAL)
Cody Simon
LB Ohio State
Dillon Gabriel Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (DAL)
Dillon Gabriel
QB Oregon
Nick Nash Head Shot
PICK: 170 RND: 5 (DAL)
Nick Nash
WR San Jose State
RJ Harvey Head Shot
PICK: 172 RND: 5 (DAL)
RJ Harvey
RB UCF
Jack Nelson Head Shot
PICK: 174 RND: 5 (DAL)
Jack Nelson
OT Wisconsin
Hayden Conner Head Shot
PICK: 190 RND: 6 (DAL)
Hayden Conner
OG Texas
Jay Higgins Head Shot
PICK: 211 RND: 6 (DAL)
Jay Higgins
LB Iowa
Phillip Webb Head Shot
PICK: 249 RND: 7 (DAL)
Phillip Webb
DL-EDGE Jackson State
Draft Picks Received
Walter Nolen Head Shot
PICK: 27 RND: 1 (BAL)
Walter Nolen
DT Ole Miss
Jayden Higgins Head Shot
PICK: 80 RND: 3 (IND)
Jayden Higgins
WR Iowa State
Fadil Diggs Head Shot
PICK: 136 RND: 4 (BAL)
Fadil Diggs
DL-EDGE Syracuse
Dillon Gabriel Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (IND)
Dillon Gabriel
QB Oregon
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 1 (BAL)
NEXT YEAR (2026)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 3 (IND)
NEXT YEAR (2026)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Will Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 12 RND: 1 (IND)
Will Johnson
CB Michigan
Players Gained
Head Shot
Travis Jones
DT
Draft Grade — Cowboys
Overall B+
ValueB- NeedB TradesB+ FutureA
A respectable, level-headed haul for the Cowboys: B+.

There was a run on nobody at that position, and the Cowboys started one anyway for Fadil Diggs, 95 picks ahead of schedule. Call it a sensible B+, earned the boring way.

Getting Nash where they did is the sort of value that quietly makes a class. A whole weekend of picks and cornerback is somehow still a want. The Travis Jones deal gives the class an established piece to lean on.

All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but cornerback.

Pick Analysis
Pick27 Rnd1 Walter Nolen
In pick No. 27 they get a wrecking ball inside at a price that makes it sweeter. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick44 Rnd2 Kaleb Johnson
A straight-up fair deal on Kaleb Johnson at the Round 2 slot, value and slot in agreement. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick76 Rnd3 Deone Walker
They let Deone Walker come to them and pounced at the 76th overall pick. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick80 Rnd3 Jayden Higgins
Nice patience on Jayden Higgins, who had no business lasting to pick 80. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick136 Rnd4 Fadil Diggs
A real head-scratcher, Fadil Diggs in the 136th pick is miles ahead of his ranking. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Pick150 Rnd5 Cody Simon
Cody Simon in slot 150 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick152 Rnd5 Dillon Gabriel
Circle this one: Dillon Gabriel at the 152nd pick is a fall that decides a draft. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick170 Rnd5 Nick Nash
Somehow Nick Nash was still sitting there in No. 170, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick172 Rnd5 RJ Harvey
RJ Harvey slid further than he should have, and Round 5, Pick 33 is lovely value for the running back. The roster fit checks out.
Pick174 Rnd5 Jack Nelson
A reasonable price with a little left over, Jack Nelson in slot 174. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick190 Rnd6 Hayden Conner
Hayden Conner in pick No. 190 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick211 Rnd6 Jay Higgins
They will replay Jay Higgins at pick 211 for years; that is how good the value is. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick249 Rnd7 Phillip Webb
They talked themselves into Phillip Webb at the Round 7 slot, and the board did not agree. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.