The Dallas Cowboys will be hard-pressed to make a pick at No. 12 overall that would leave fans despondent.
While they will miss out on the likes of Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter, running back phenom Ashton Jeanty could (emphasis on could) fall to them. Even if Jeanty is gone, odds are Dallas will have its pick of the top two wide receivers in the class: Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan and Texas' Matthew Golden.
Golden would be a slight reach at No. 12 based on the consensus rankings, but WR2 is such a big need that it wouldn't be a bad pick. In a vacuum, Golden doesn't have as many red flags compared to other prospects that could be in play for the Cowboys.
Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams is a prime example. Williams is a physical specimen, but does not have the production or pass rush win percentage indicative of a top-15 pick.
However, longtime draft analyst Todd McShay is hearing that the league is higher on Williams than the draft community. So much so that one team has Williams as its No. 6 or No. 7 overall prospect. ESPN analyst Peter Schrager is hearing similar rumblings.
Todd McShay on Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams: “The league loves him. I saw a board (from an NFL team) where he was 6th or 7th overall.”
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 21, 2025
Cowboys drafting Mykel Williams No. 12 overall would be a mistake
Williams only had 5.0 sacks on a dominant Georgia defense last season. While Kirby Smart heavily rotates his defensive front, Williams still played 249 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He also posted a 61.0 pass-rush grade in true pass sets. Yes, he battled a nagging ankle injury, but you would expect better output from a former top-10 recruit.
At 6-5 and 265 pounds, Williams has the ideal size to deploy opposite Micah Parsons, who is undersized for a full-time edge rusher.
Still just 20 years old, Williams has the individual traits to be a long-term starter in the league. However, the former Bulldog isn't nuanced enough at this stage in his career to justify Dallas spending the No. 12 pick on him.
That isn't to say the Cowboys couldn't use another EDGE, but wide receiver, cornerback and defensive tackle are much bigger needs. Other teams like the Panthers, who pick No. 8 overall, the Falcons (No. 14) and the Cardinals (No. 16) have the leeway to draft and develop Williams.
The Cowboys already have two development EDGEs in Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland. Williams is entering the final year of his rookie deal, but the EDGE room isn't currently starved for a high-upside player. This would be a different conversation if Williams was more refined, but coming off a 7-10 season, Dallas does not have the luxury to bet on upside.
