Entering the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys have two glaring needs on offense in positions that always garner a lot of attention in Round 1: wide receiver and running back.
With the No. 12 pick, Jerry Jones' team is in prime position to select one of the top prospects in any position of their choosing. However, Dallas could run into a problem if one of their favorite options is taken before they get on the clock.
This may certainly be the case for running back as the clear-cut No. 1 ball carrier, Ashton Jeanty, is now likely to go in the top 10. Plus, Dallas has said they are more turned off from choosing a running back than most initially believed in this spot.
For receiver? If one of Dallas' targets is off the board, that could spell a tricky situation to maneuver.
They have other holes to fill throughout the roster as well, but many believe the Cowboys are all but telegraphing that they want to pick a solid wideout with the No. 12 pick to pair with CeeDee Lamb.
Assuming the offense/defense hybrid Travis Hunter doesn't count, many scouts have Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan as the best pass catcher available.
If Jeanty and McMillan are both gone before Dallas' pick at No. 12 ... Bleacher Report believes "America's Team" would face a nightmare scenario.
"Ashton Jeanty and Tetairoa McMillan are both gone when they pick 12th overall, leaving them without an obvious skill-position candidate to support Dak Prescott from the get-go," Brad Gagnon says.
In this hypothetical, we believe the Cowboys have two viable options to save them from a disastrous Round 1 performance ... and these moves are just as beneficial as they are possible.
Option 1: Draft Texas WR Matthew Golden
After a stellar scouting process, picking Golden instead of McMillan should not be looked at as a consolation.
The former Texas Longhorns speedster shined at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis running a 4.29 40-yard dash ... which made him the fastest offensive player in the draft field.
Last year in Austin, Golden turned into quarterback Quinn Ewers' favorite target during the second half of the season. Golden finished his 2024 campaign with 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns. His deep-threat ability was on full display with a 17.0 yards per reception average for the season.
Golden lining up on the outside with Lamb in the slot is enough to get Cowboys Nation thrilled about their receiving options for QB Dak Prescott.
Option 2: Trade Back in First Round
This idea of a trade back is always a questionable one because it's never guaranteed what player will be available however far down a team moves. We know for certain that Stephen Jones and the Dallas front office still see the move as a possibility.
Assuming Golden is off the board by the time Dallas picks later in the first round, there may be another receiver available, or the Cowboys could find a suitable fit at another roster need like running back or offensive lineman.
In a trade-back scenario, Ohio State's experienced receiver Emeka Egbuka would be a responsible pick, as he possess many of the positive traits as the other top receivers in this class without sacrificing much ceiling room on his potential.
North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton and Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons may also be quality selections. There would be a strong chance either of them still turn into a Day 1 starter like a top receiver would ... which would prove the move worthwhile in the end.
Obviously any "nightmare scenario" is not ideal, but these options allow the Cowboys to avoid fumbling their pick in the first round of a Draft that could have major impact on their starting personnel for 2025.
