Everyone has a type. It might be Japanese autos, mint chocolate chip ice cream, high-drama relationships or Hawaiian pizza... but there are things some of us are just uniquely attached to in life. The personnel division of the Dallas Cowboys are certainly no differen; they have a type as well. Their preference is for former first-round draft picks who have failed to realize their NFL potential.
The Cowboys have always valued traits and pedigree in their players, but this offseason it’s become obnoxiously apparent.
Kenneth Murray, Kaiir Elam, Solomon Thomas, Dante Fowler and Payton Turner are five recent additions who are also former first rounders. As if that wasn’t enough pedigree to add in one offseason, Dallas also added former second rounders Javonte Williams, Parris Campbell and Miles Sanders. It appears they put a lot of stock into a player’s raw traits, and the draft status that comes with it.
Looking at the list of additions, it’s fair to say none have lived up to the potential their respective draft status indicated. Even Fowler, a great player in his own right, has struggled living up to the billing of being the No. 3 overall pick in 2015. The others have been various degrees of disappointment since entering the league.
Based on all the new additions, the Cowboys clearly hope their newly-assembled coaching staff can achieve what these players’ previous staffs could not. All of the former first-round picks appear to have bona fide traits and skillsets capable of guiding them to greatness. They just need to navigate the many other factors that stand in the way of success.
To say this is a tough task for the Cowboys’ staff is an understatement. Each player will require a specific battle plan in order to elicit their best selves. Dallas obviously thinks highly of their staff, or they wouldn’t be asking so much of them here. Millions upon millions have been invested in these players and they can’t afford for them all to go bust.
Fowler is a safe bet to perform well in 2025, but the others are anyone’s guess.
Murray has looked somewhat lost and undisciplined as an NFL linebacker. If the coaching staff can hammer home the appropriate assignments without slowing down his reaction time, they may have something in him.
Elam appears to have confidence issues above all and could use a fresh start and blank slate. If he can pack good day on good day he may become a starting level player at some point. Turner has struggled in multiple areas of the game since being drafted by New Orleans in 2021. His 6-foot-6, 270-pound frame packs potential but he may have to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Thomas is functional as a defensive lineman and likely to fit into the rotation early, but he could still be better against the run. His coach from New York, Aaron Whitecotton, clearly thinks he can play since he was likely part of the brain trust who endorsed the free agent signing. It’s not unrealistic to think, even at age 29, Thomas could be more well-rounded in his play in 2025.
The coaches believe in the players and the organization believe in the coaches. The Cowboys might not have that famous “I can fix him” relationship mentality but they do have a deep desire to strike gold where other teams have struck out.
