Ever since the completion of the 2025 NFL draft, there have been concerns, questions, and a good share of criticism about why the Dallas Cowboys didn’t draft a wide receiver. Because let’s be real, the Cowboys are in dire need of a receiver who can complement CeeDee Lamb in the 2025 season. And now that the NFL draft is over, Jerry Jones and crew could address this situation either via trade or through free agency.

But if you’re thinking that the Cowboys are just receiving immense criticism over their decision of not picking a WR, think again. As one of the execs, per Mike Sando, said, “I don’t know why everyone wants them to take a receiver so bad when they have one they are paying $34 million a year. There are always wideouts out there, and you have a guy that demands coverage.”

Turns out, a few of the execs can’t stop gushing about what the Cowboys did in the NFL draft. We’re especially talking about the first three picks of the Cowboys. Sure, they were interested in drafting Alabama’s wideout Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 overall pick, but that didn’t work out in their favor. That said, Jerry Jones and Co. had to go with Plan B when they selected another Alabama prospect, Tyler Booker.

And that’s where it gets pretty interesting. Recently, Mike Sando of The Athletic talked with NFL execs to get their thoughts on the Cowboys’ draft picks. And let’s just say a few of the execs are just raving about most of the Cowboys’ picks, starting with Booker. For Booker, one exec called the 12th overall pick for the Cowboys “the best guard in the draft.” And why not? The guy was the best offensive lineman of the Crimson Tide and was recognized as the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week three times in his junior year.

Besides, Sando noted that Booker and the Cowboys’ second-round pick, pass rusher, Donovan Ezeiruaku, were the team captains for their respective teams in college. Translation? Well, that means the newly appointed head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, could focus on their character as well as their skills and stats.

As it turns out, the NFL execs had similar thoughts for Ezeiruaku as well. “They get a pass rusher opposite Micah Parsons who can actually win with speed,” one of the execs said. “Their pass rush is going to be a pain in the ass to deal with.” Now comes the third-round pick—cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., who, of course, caught attention from the front office.

“We liked the corner (Revel Jr.) they took,” said one. “He can change the angle of the ball arriving, like Seattle used to do with those taller corners.” See, a few of the analysts believed that Revel Jr. could be a late-round pick. However, considering the guy missed most of East Carolina’s 2024 season with an ACL tear, the CB slipped down to the third round. The kicker?

Word is, the execs see Shavon as one of the biggest steals in the draft. And if you stack it all up—Booker, Ezeiruaku, and Revel all landed in the top 7 at their spots in Dane Brugler’s ‘The Beast.’ All in all, one could hate Jerry Jones for his tactics, but it seems like the execs think the Cowboys pulled off a solid one this year. However, there’s a pretty big concern for their first-round pick.

Jerry Jones’ first-round pick runs out of gas sometimes

Alright, so here’s the deal with Tyler Booker. The guy was an absolute force at Alabama—playing and starting all 13 games in the last season. And along the way, the guy racked up 93 knockdown blocks in his final season and didn’t allow a single sack in 176 pass-blocking snaps. But here’s the thing: he was listed at over 350 pounds back in 2023 before trimming down to under 330 in 2024. Well, that’s where it gets pretty messy.

See, the guy’s 6’5” tall and weighs 325 pounds, and can knock people down, no doubt. Besides, the guy is expected to improve the Cowboys’ offensive line that finished the season 17th in PFSN’s Offensive Line+ metric in 2024 with a C+ season grade. But a few people in the front office are concerned about his stamina over a full NFL season. As one exec pointed out, “Booker is huge, and he can knock people back, but he does run out of gas some.” Translation?

Simple: he’s a powerhouse when he’s holding his ground and going head-to-head with defenders right in front of him. But when it comes to moving out wide, like pulling on run plays or chasing quicker defenders in open space? That’s where he struggles a bit. He’s not the fastest guy on the move and can miss his blocks when things shift quickly. Long story short: the Cowboys got one of the best guards on their roster, but Brian Schottenheimer and Co. need to address some concerns for Booker—at least that’s what execs probably believe.