The Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 rookie class didn’t exactly come storming out of the gates-but dig a little deeper, and the picture starts to look a whole lot more promising.
Let’s start with the basics. First-round pick Tyler Booker stepped into a starting role right away, logging 14 starts in his rookie campaign.
That’s exactly what you want from a Day 1 pick-plug-and-play ability, and Booker delivered. Second-rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku needed a little time to adjust to the pro game but still managed to notch nine starts.
Third-round cornerback Shavon Revel didn’t see the field until midseason due to injury, but once he got healthy, he started five of the final seven games-an encouraging sign for a young defensive back trying to find his footing.
Beyond that, things were more developmental. Fifth-round running back Jaydon Blue saw limited action-just 78 offensive snaps across five games-and clearly needed refinement.
Fellow back Phil Mafah barely saw the field, getting his lone action in the season finale. Two other draft picks didn’t make the 53-man roster at all.
So yeah, on paper, it might not scream “instant impact.” But when you zoom out and look at the total contribution, the 2025 rookie class logged 2,956 snaps-11.7% of the Cowboys’ total offensive and defensive snaps for the season.
That’s the equivalent of 2.6 full-time starters. Not flashy, but quietly effective.
In fact, that’s slightly above the Cowboys’ multi-year average for rookie class contributions.
And that’s where the real story lies.
This wasn’t a class built to light up highlight reels in Year 1. It was about laying a foundation.
Tyler Booker looks like he’s going to be a fixture. Ezeiruaku showed enough flashes to believe he could be a long-term piece in the front seven.
Revel, if he stays healthy and benefits from a new defensive coordinator, could take a big leap. And don’t overlook fifth-round linebacker Shemar James, who earned six starts and quietly added value down the stretch.
In total, this group performed like a solid draft class should: a couple of potential starters, a few role players, and the possibility of more emerging with time. That’s the baseline you want in Year 1.
Now, let’s widen the lens.
Since Will McClay took the reins in 2013, the Cowboys have built a reputation for drafting well-at least in terms of getting players on the field. The target benchmark for a rookie class is contributing the equivalent of two starters, or 9% of total snaps. And since 2013, Dallas has only missed that mark twice: in 2019, when they traded their first-rounder for Amari Cooper, and in 2023, when injuries derailed the development of Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker, and DeMarvion Overshown.
The trend gets even better in Year 2 and Year 3, where most of the Cowboys’ classes turn into a sea of green and blue-color-coded indicators of two or more starters emerging. That’s the sweet spot. That’s when you expect rookies to become regular contributors or even difference-makers.
But here’s the concern: the Cowboys haven’t had a “blue” class-one that produces three or more starters-in the last three years. And that’s a problem.
Because while solid depth is important, you need blue-chip talent to elevate your roster. You need those draft classes that swing the balance of power on your depth chart.
The 2023 class? It’s looking like a lost year.
Injuries and underperformance have left that group with a steep hill to climb. The 2024 and 2025 classes still have a chance to develop into something more, but they’ll need to take a big leap in Year 2 and Year 3.
And that brings us to the 2026 draft.
With two first-round picks and no Day 2 selections, the pressure is on. This has to be a “blue” class.
Not just contributors-difference-makers. The Cowboys can’t afford another year of just solid.
They need stars. They need players who can step in and change games.
Because here’s the hard truth: if you’re not adding top-end talent through the draft, you’re falling behind. And while some fans may argue that none of this matters unless it leads to a Super Bowl, the reality is that consistent contention starts with consistently building your roster the right way.
You don’t win championships with just replacement-level depth. You win with a core of elite talent-and right now, the Cowboys are in danger of letting that core erode.
So how many blue-chip players are currently on the Cowboys’ roster? And how many more do they need to close the gap between where they are and where they want to be?
That’s the question heading into 2026. And the answer starts with this next rookie class.