From CeeDee Lamb to Tyler Guyton: How Cowboys’ last five first-round picks have fared – Chris Amaya, Dallas Morning News
A look into the last five first-round draft picks for the Cowboys and how they are faring so far in the NFL.
2021 first-round draftee: Penn State LB Micah Parsons
Where he was drafted: 12th overall in the 2021 NFL draft (Dallas traded down from No. 10)
Stats since landing in Dallas: 256 total tackles, 112 quarterback hits, 63 tackles for loss, 52.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and nine pass deflections.
Summary: Like Lamb, Parsons made an immediate impact upon joining the Cowboys. Although he was initially viewed as an off-ball linebacker, Parsons has made his presence felt as a pass rusher in the NFL. He has posted double-digit sacks in each of four seasons as a Cowboy, earning four Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro honors. Parsons is also perennially in the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year.
The do-it-all weapon is currently seeking his second contract from the Cowboys. A new deal would likely make him one of the league’s highest-paid non-quarterbacks.
2022 first-round draftee: Tulsa OL Tyler Smith
Where he was drafted: 24th overall in the 2022 NFL draft
Stats since landing in Dallas: Has started 47 games over the last three seasons, playing 3,140 snaps. Has lined up at offensive guard and offensive tackle.
Summary: While their selection of Smith was initially met with some shock, the Cowboys have benefited from taking the North Crowley product. Smith has proven to be a versatile piece in Dallas, lining up at both left guard and left tackle. In his rookie year, Smith was immediately tasked with protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside after Tyron Smith went down with an injury. He excelled in that spot.
Smith has earned two Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro honor throughout his time in Dallas. He’ll likely be a key piece of the team’s offensive line for years to come.
Possible Pick: R.J. Mickens presents an intriguing late round option – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
If the Cowboys are looking to add more depth to the safety room, they could have a good option in R.J. Mickens in the later rounds of the draft.
Where He’s Projected:
Despite finishing his Clemson career with a productive fifth season, Mickens is looked at as a Day 3 pick, with some projections even seeing him go as late as the seventh round, presenting a chance for a late-round value addition.
How He Helps the Cowboys:
If the aforementioned projection stays true, Mickens gives Dallas an option to add to their safety room that brings back all five bodies that played for them in 2024. Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson started alongside each other in all 17 games, but could the room use some more youth and depth?
Mickens give you a lot of reasons to say yes, as a high-IQ player who can be the quarterback of a defense with great instincts that allow him to play fast and confident and a willingness to get physical as a tackler. That sounds like the exact kind of player that the Cowboys defense is looking for under Matt Eberflus.
Concerns certainly lie in his top end speed, which is something to consider with coverage ability, but overall there’s a good body of work on tape for Mickens, and the football DNA that runs through the Mickens family reveals itself with R.J.
Cowboys’ DeMarvion Overshown isn’t ‘throwing away’ a Week 1 return – Koby Skillern, Sports Illustrated
DeMarvion Overshown has high hopes for returning to the field in 2025.
As Overshown works his way back from his gruesome injuries, he remains candid and optimistic about when he will return to the field.
“Nowadays, being young in my career, it’s something that you don’t want to rush. I’ll probably start off on the PUP list, but I’m not throwing away starting off in Week 1. I’m never throwing that out the door. I’m working for it,” said Overshown.
Although Overshown isn’t ruling out a return in Week 1, Cowboys writer Clarence Hill believes November is a more realistic return date.
After watching Overshown showcase his immense talent, athleticism, and work ethic during his time in the NFL, Cowboys Nation would much rather see Overshown return to full health rather than risk re-injury.
Next Man Up: Sam Williams is starved, ready to feast for Cowboys in return from ACL injury – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
The Cowboys have some holes to fill on their defensive line after the departure of DeMarcus Lawrence. Sam Williams is eager to get his shot at the opportunity.
The Present: What might’ve been, and was predicted to be, a potential breakout season — with both Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong departing for the Commanders in free agency — for Williams in 2024 immediately became disastrous when he went down on a routine non-contact drill at the beginning of training camp. It was discovered he’d torn his ACL and would be done for the season, completely deleting Year 3 from his NFL calendar in the process. Well, Fowler has returned to the Cowboys, but Lawrence has taken his talent to the Seahawks.
The Future: As Williams works his way back onto the field, it’s also Marshawn Kneeland, the 2024 second-round pick, that he’ll have to contend with going forward; but Williams’ could not be more driven to make 2025 his best season as a pro. It’s not simply his social media post that read “my turn” following the departure of Lawrence, but also the fact he’s entering a season that will likely determine the next step in his career and, yes, I’m also talking contractually and financially. It’s undetermined yet if Williams will begin this year’s training camp on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, and that is something to keep an eye on but, once he does return to the field, you can expect to see a starved animal looking for a meal during every one of his snaps.
Cowboys should take a chance on Shilo Sanders in 2025 NFL Draft – Tyler Reed, Sports Illustrated
Another option for the Cowboys to bolster their safety room in the draft is none other than Primetime’s son, Shilo Sanders.
Alex Kay recently crafted a list of 2025 draft prospects that could be potential steals in the later rounds. One name on that list is one that is very familiar with Cowboys fans.
Kay writes that former Colorado safety Shilo Sanders has the potential to be a diamond found in the rough during the 2025 NFL Draft.
“The elder Sanders’ draft stock received a boost last week when he ran an impressive 4.52-second 40-yard dash at Colorado’s pro day. While he didn’t quite hit the target that father and head coach Deion Sanders was hoping for—Coach Prime had promised to buy his son a new car if he ran a 4.4 or better—it’s one that should have scouts buzzing about his pro potential,” writes Kay.
Sanders has the speed to belong in the NFL, and getting the chance to play behind Malik Hooker and Markquese Bell could be the learning opportunity Sanders needs to become a household name on his own.
