It’s often said that it takes five years to truly evaluate an NFL draft class. But let’s be real - in today’s league, you usually know by Year 2 or 3 whether you’ve got building blocks or busts. And in the case of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 rookie class, the early returns are looking like a major win for the front office.
Yes, the 2023 class missed the mark - Mazi Smith is already out the door via trade, and Luke Schoonmaker has been relegated to a reserve role. But when a class hits, it usually doesn’t take long to see the impact.
Just ask Micah Parsons, who was an All-Pro as a rookie, or CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs, both of whom made their presence felt early in their careers. The 2025 group is starting to feel like it belongs in that same conversation.
Donovan Ezeiruaku: A Game-Changer on the Edge
Let’s start with the headliner: second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku. On paper, the sack numbers - just two so far - might not turn heads. But if you’re watching the tape and diving into the advanced metrics, you know this rookie has been one of the most disruptive edge defenders in the league, not just among rookies.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ezeiruaku ranks second among all rookie edge rushers in both run-defense grade (69.9) and pass-rush grade (70.9). He leads the entire rookie class in pass-rush win rate at 13.7%, and he’s already racked up 11 quarterback hits - good enough for top-10 at his position. That’s not just solid production - that’s impact.
And November was a breakout month. Ezeiruaku posted an 88.8 run-defense grade, the best among all edge defenders.
He’s tallied 13 defensive stops at an 8.3% rate, both tops among rookie edge players. He’s also generating a 20.4% positive play rate and limiting negative plays to just 9.6% as a run defender.
That’s the kind of efficiency coaches dream about.
Sacks can be misleading - they’re flashy but often inconsistent. What’s more telling is how often a player is winning his reps, creating pressure, and forcing quarterbacks off their spots.
Ezeiruaku checks all those boxes. With his bend, motor, and technique, the sacks will come.
But even without gaudy numbers, he’s already affecting games in a big way. The Cowboys haven’t had a young, ascending edge presence like this since DeMarcus Lawrence was in his prime.
Tyler Booker: Holding Down the Trenches
On the other side of the ball, Tyler Booker has been a steadying force. Since returning from a high-ankle sprain, he’s arguably been the Cowboys’ best offensive lineman - no small feat for a rookie.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked him as the third-best rookie offensive lineman in the league, and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s in pass protection or anchoring the run game, Booker has brought a level of consistency and physicality that Dallas desperately needed up front.
More Rookies Stepping Up
And it doesn’t stop there. Defensive rookies Shavon Revel and Shemar James are seeing increased snaps, and while they’re still developing, the early signs are promising. Both are showing the kind of instincts and athleticism that could make them key contributors down the stretch - and potentially long-term starters.
After back-to-back draft classes that didn’t quite pan out, this 2025 group is breathing new life into the Cowboys’ roster. It’s not just about individual talent - it’s about how these rookies are already stepping into meaningful roles and producing. That’s how you build a contender.
So while it might be early to crown this class just yet, if the first few months are any indication, Dallas may have struck gold. With Ezeiruaku wrecking plays off the edge, Booker anchoring the line, and other young defenders gaining traction, the Cowboys look like they’ve found their next core - and it couldn’t have come at a better time.