The Draft Show: The Road to the Draft Begins...

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Draft Show — “The Road to the Draft Begins...”

Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Kyle Yeomans, Voch Lombardi, Nick Harris, Tommy Yarish, Bobby Belt
Theme: Kicking off the 2026 NFL Draft season with an overview of the Dallas Cowboys’ draft strategy, roster needs, and initial prospect discussion. The episode features the crew assessing the current state of the Cowboys, reacting to the firing of DC Matt Eberflus, and fielding fan questions on draft priorities and prospects.

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Main Theme and Purpose

This episode marks the official start to the Cowboys’ 2026 draft coverage. With two first-round picks following the Micah Parsons trade but no picks in rounds 2 or 3, the crew lays the groundwork for what will be an unusual draft approach for Dallas. The hosts analyze roster needs (especially on defense), react to the recent firing of Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus, and begin mapping out key draft priorities and potential fits.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Dallas’ Draft Capital and Strategy

• Cowboys own two first-round picks (thanks to the Micah Parsons trade), but no picks in rounds 2 or 3.
• This creates a “big gap” between early picks and the next opportunity, requiring a different scouting and draft approach, particularly with the focus on maximizing the value of the two first-rounders.
• Discussion on trading back for Day 2 capital: Several hosts support the idea of moving one of the firsts to acquire additional picks given the team's many roster holes.
  • “You do have kind of a larger pool of second, third round guys that can be plus players... I don’t think you can hurt whatsoever from moving back.” - Tommy Yarish (03:09)

2. Assessing the State of the Roster & Free Agency Impact

• Heavy focus on defensive needs: The crew estimates the team will need to replace or upgrade at least seven defensive positions.
• Free agency will significantly affect draft priorities, especially at linebacker, edge rusher, and cornerback.
• There are ways Dallas can create cap space (restructures, possible cuts like Terence Steele, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb contracts).

3. Reaction to Matt Eberflus Firing and DC Search

• Firing signals an organizational reset on defense and provides an opportunity to tailor the unit to a new coach’s vision.
• The hosts stress the need for flexibility–both in coaching hires and player acquisition.
  • “If your coordinator can’t adapt the scheme to the players... you’re just not going to be successful in the modern NFL.” - Tommy Yarish (15:56)
• Discussion on whether Dallas should prioritize “scheme fit” or best available player, and the potential impact of coaching changes on how they approach the draft.

4. Discussion of Draft Priorities and Key Positions

Edge Rusher

• Universally considered the team’s top defensive need.
  • “Is edge rusher at the top of the list? Yes, absolutely.” - Tommy Yarish (25:00)
• Top edge prospects: Ruben Bain (Miami), David Bailey (Texas Tech), with both likely to be high on the Cowboys’ board, though there’s skepticism they will fall to Dallas’ first pick.
• The team has shown a tendency to value length and measurables at edge; concern about potentially “falling in love” with less productive but traits-heavy players.

Linebacker

• Considered a deep 2026 class, with names like Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, and CJ Allen all worth a first-round look.
  • “I think [linebacker is] super deep... I think there's really good linebackers in this class, especially this top 15, top 20 range.” - Nick Harris (26:25)

Safety

• If not able to land an elite edge or linebacker, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is seen as a game-changing safety worthy of pick 12.
  • “Caleb Downs, if he's the best player there... he just makes sense.” - Voch Lombardi (39:03)
• Some skepticism that Downs falls out of the top 5, but the positional value might push him down, as safeties often slide further than their grade suggests.

Double Dipping and Position Depth

• With limited draft capital, linebacker and edge are the two position groups the crew would feel comfortable double-dipping in.
  • “Linebacker and edge are two position groups I'd be fine if they double.” - Bobby Belt (34:44)

5. Cowboys Draft Accountability - Reviewing the 2025 Class

Tyler Booker (OG, 1st Round)

• Consensus: Exceeded expectations, was a clear “hit.”
  • “I think he played above and beyond. If you were to redraft this class, yeah, he'd probably be a top 10 pick.” - Kyle Yeomans (52:05)

Donovan Aziraku (EDGE, 2nd Round)

• Solid year, especially in the run game, but didn't rack up sacks.
• “I think he probably played up to a second-round grade this year.” - Nick Harris (53:12)

Savone Revel (CB, 3rd Round)

• Flashes before/after injury, needs to show he’s healthy and playing without limitations in ‘26.
• The crew hopes a new DC can “play to strengths,” particularly in press coverage.

Jaden Blue (RB, 5th Round)

• Did not contribute as much as hoped, but considered a fair return for a fifth-rounder.
• Needs to learn to be a professional, improve pass protection, and ball security.
  • “Between the tackles, things like that, that's stuff he still needs to work on. Get stronger. Ball security was a huge problem in college and he had a fumble this year.” - Tommy Yarish (61:27)

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Fan Questions and Notable Quotes

On Defensive Coordinator Hiring & System Flexibility

• “If your coordinator is not versatile enough to adapt his players to the scheme or the scheme to the players, then I think it’s going to be tough sledding.” - Tommy Yarish (15:56)

On Drafting Best Player vs. Need

• “If you can get an MF’er at 12... and you get a dude at 20, I think you could be two dudes away.” - Voch Lombardi (05:02)

On Caleb Downs’ Value

• “Caleb Downs is arguably, on defense, the most plug-and-play ready player defensively in the draft.” - Bobby Belt (44:19)
• “Downs is a little bit more compact... What stood out to me is his football IQ and how smart of a player he is.” - Tommy Yarish (39:55)

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Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|-------------| | Cowboys’ Draft Capital and Strategy | 00:47–03:49 | | Defensive Needs and Cap Situation | 05:57–08:36 | | Eberflus Firing, Reaction, and Impact | 10:19–11:51 | | Twitter on the 20 / Fan Q&A Begins | 24:44 | | Edge Rusher/Linebacker/Safety Priorities | 25:00–43:21 | | Caleb Downs Discussion | 38:36–42:51 | | Draft Accountability (2025 Class Review) | 50:25–64:16 |

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Voch lobbies hard for focusing all resources on defense, taking a lighthearted shot at the outgoing DC:
  • “Floose made a lot of money doing a bad job. Shouts out to Floose, man, you did something through your time here.” (10:22)
• Fan engagement with “Twitter on the 20” brings in detailed draft and roster questions (24:44 onward).
• Team camaraderie and running jokes about contract negotiations, NIL deals, and Texas Tech trying to poach Tommy Yarish (23:13-24:13).
• Long-term optimism balanced with urgency: “We ain’t got long, man. Come on Dak. Come on, defense.” - Voch (50:23)

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Summary for New Listeners

This kickoff episode is ideal for fans who want a comprehensive, inside-baseball look at where the Cowboys stand heading into the 2026 draft cycle. The hosts blend deep football knowledge with wit and camaraderie, balancing pragmatism about roster holes with optimism about the two first-round picks. They break down how free agency, coaching hires, and positional value will shape their board, and offer honest, detailed assessments of last year’s rookie class. If you’re looking for an informed, lively, and unfiltered guide to Cowboys draft season, this episode sets the tone.

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Next episode preview: The crew plans to focus entirely on defensive prospects, offering scouting reports and solutions for improving the Cowboys’ defense under a new coordinator.

Transcript

[A]

Lowe's Nose Sundays are for football, so tackle your home improvement projects by Saturday and earn your Sunday with great deals on LG and Bosch appliances, Select Bounty and Swiffer cleaning products and more. Then once your to do list is done, get ready to kick back, relax and enjoy the game. Shop in store online now and earn your Sunday with help from Lowe's official partner of the NFL. This is the Dallas Cowboys.com draft show.

[B]

Your war room for insider news and.

[A]

Draft analysis from deep within the confines of Cowboys headquarters at the Star and Frisco.

[B]

Now your hosts, Vach Lombardi, Nick Harris.

[A]

Bobby Belt, Tommy Yarish and Kyle Yeomans. Today is Tuesday, January 6th and we are 107 days away from the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Welcome into the first episode of the Draft show presented by Miller Lite. We've got our new crew for the 2026 draft process and we are excited to investigate and educate all the way through the NFL draft, providing wall to wall coverage coming up in late April. We've got Vach Lombardi next, Nick Harris, Tommy Yarish, and Bobby Belt. I'm Kyle Yeomans with Chris Beam working everything in the back. Glad you're with us gentlemen. Welcome back to draft season. Feels like a long time coming, but hey, we are back and we are ready to roll. Nick Harris, welcome back bud.

[C]

Yeah, thank you man. I am excited to roll. You know, we haven't been on the show since the Micah Parsons trade obviously and just having the idea of two first round picks this year, there's going to be so much fun that we're going to be able to talk about all the possibilities. Now we might be doing nothing on day two, but day one we're going to have a lot of fun. Guys.

[A]

That day two vaccine is going to take forever.

[B]

Well, Vouch isn't going to be here. Vouch is going to go outside and vacuum the carpet. I'm going to ask if y' all need snacks or something like that. I don't want to just sit around and talk if the Cowboys don't have pics. But we got a job to do. Got a job to do. The part of the job in this thing is to, you know, kind of study 250 some odd people. So we're going to come in here with no picks on day two and be miserable. But boy, day one's going to be a party.

[A]

And that's the thing is you got to kind of evaluate differently, Bobby, when you have such a big gap in terms of what you're picking in because Cowboys picking twice in the first, then you don't have a second, you don't have a third, do you? You still have to evaluate those guys, but it's in a different light than you normally have in the past.

[D]

Yeah, I mean, you got to kind of evaluate them more generally. But I mean the other aspect there's just, you've got to evaluate them from the perspective of Dallas. Do they take something with that second first round pick? Do they try to move back? Do they add capital? Do they do some of that? They've moved back a couple different times in recent years. And so I mean you just got to have be braced for that as well. Just the idea of like, hey, are they going to be picking early in the second round instead of late in the first? Are they going to have a second move back? Because I think they definitely, by the time the draft rolls around, if they have not, you know, done a heavy lifting in free agency, they're going to need extra capital on draft day.

[E]

No, that's absolutely right. And I think as it stands right now, you can't look at this team and with all the holes that they have, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and say they're two first round picks away from being better. Sure, free agency is going to play a big part in it, but as it stands right now, I don't think you can hurt whatsoever from moving back. Whether it be you trade your first round pick to move back later in the first round and pick up a third or something like that, or any, any way you can get a day two pick I think is going to benefit you, especially in this class where at least early, early on it seems like you don't have as much of the high end talent and you do have kind of a larger pool of second, third round guys that can be plus players for you, but are probably not going to be guys that you want to use that early capital on.

[C]

I'm glad you mentioned the free agency point because I think you can be two players away when draft day does roll around. I think you can be, you know, that, that middle linebacker MF guy that can get in there and stop the run. He could be really disciplined in coverages. He can be that communicator and then you can get that outside corner who you know can bring you that those ball skills get you those takeaways that you lack this past season or the edge rusher, whatever it may be. I think you can be two players away when draft A rolls around. But there's going to be a lot that plays into that.

[E]

That is only if you. You address the other needs and free fight them time.

[A]

No, no.

[B]

It's draft show, man. No, no, no, no. Don't say no. Don't say no. Cause we were too friendly last year. I went back. I went back and watched the tape. Okay?

[D]

Understand we was rookies soft scouting, but.

[B]

But we gotta fight a little bit. Fight him, Tommy.

[A]

Why?

[B]

Why? Why aren't we just two players away to talk to him? No, look at him. Don't look at me. Look at him more.

[A]

Of what?

[D]

I agree with you.

[B]

Yeah, I agree. You don't agree. Fight him.

[C]

We do agree.

[E]

I'll do the Notre Dame.

[B]

You think we can win with two knockouts in the draft?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You think we need a lot more. We should trade back and get more dudes. Tell them why.

[E]

I think if you don't.

[B]

Sorry, Kyle.

[E]

If you don't address your other needs in free agency. If you don't address your other needs in free agency, you go not. You're not two players away.

[B]

Because I'm with Nick a little bit, right? Like, I. I don't want the four, all right? I got four cool guys, right? I want the best possible dude I can get at 12. Hopefully. Hopefully he's one of them MFers. And this is something that happens in draft every single year because teams suck at drafting good dudes fall for whatever reason. Oh, he got short arms. Oh, he's a corner. All the. All the corners we like, they always end up falling in the 20s. You mean to tell me I can get Queenon Mitchell, guys like Joey Porter, guys like Jade Baron, guys that we like at corner, they always end up in the twenties for whatever reason. I don't know why. Maybe Bobby can tell us why. Trends or whatever. I never liked Forbes like that. He was like 160. But what I'm saying is, is if you can get an MFer at 12 and the league does this thing where position value happens and one of the better linebackers fall to you or like one of the corners fall to you or a running back or something, I don't know. And you get a dude at 20, I think you could be two dudes away.

[D]

You are first. You have to just identify like, given who you have under, like on the roster under contract right now you got to figure out how many starters do you need right now or starting caliber players. For instance, Donovan Aziraku is a starting caliber edge rusher. You still probably need three more right now, especially with the way they rotate those defensive linemen. So, all right, Clown is out of contract. You're going to try to bring him back. But right now that is a. An empty spot where you need a starter if you resign him. Okay, well now you need two starting edge caliber players. So I think when you look at it, the trouble is that you are probably you're going to bring back Pickens, you've got a running back situation the way that it is, but you're probably two holes on offense right now, minimum. If you don't make any cap cuts and you're seven starters roughly that you need to acquire on defense starting caliber players and you can do that. You just have to be willing to spend on starting caliber players in a way that you haven't in the past.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Do you feel like they're in the spot, Nick, to do something like that, to spin like you haven't in the past? Maybe you showed a little bit of that last year was mostly trades, though. It was mostly trades for Pickens and trades for Murray and things like that that they thought would work. Are they in a spot where they can spend when you're 33 million projected over the cap?

[C]

Yeah, they're going to have to be very decisive now. They are 33 in the red, but they could very well be as much as 660 in the green by the time free agency rolls around. You know, we think about some of these cuts that they could make. Terence Steele is one of them. Logan Wilson's another one. The Kenny Clark contract is definitely going to have to be looked at and readjusted. Restructures for Dak and CD I think are possible. And when you look at all those options, I think they can go into free agency, you know, with. With a pretty penny. And, you know, Jerry was talking to reporters before the game, before the season finale on Sunday and said we feel like we can make as dramatic as a difference this offseason than we have in a really long time. Now, is that just Jerry speak or do they actually feel like they had the potential there? You know, that's two different. But just to have that comment out there leads me to believe that they think they will have the cap flexibility to be able to do so.

[D]

I will say though, too, to your point, Steel is a decent amount of savings. That's somebody they've clearly not felt like they've gotten their money's worth so far. Yeah, I think that some of the discussion about him has been a little over the top. I think he's been better than the narrative that exists about him. But the idea of like, yeah, you can get that cap flexibility, but now you're talking about, all right, well, that's another starter now. Now you got another opening. So like, you got to start weighing. How much does that 8 million pre 6-1-14, I think post June 1st. How much is that money worth versus creating another hole where it's like, now you have to go find another starting caliber player and free agency or whatever else. With no second or third round picks.

[C]

Right now, the Terrence Steele conversation I think is going to be one we have a million times.

[D]

It's going to be one of the biggest factors, right?

[A]

And you, it could decide whether or not you're going to spend a first round pick on an offensive tackle. It could be because you're probably not going to find a replacement unless you're moving guys around in the fourth or fifth round at tackle. You've talked about that before, Vox. They've spent so many first round picks on offensive linemen, you might need an offensive tackle. But right now, are you pigeonholed so much into needing defensive talent that you can't even look at guys like that the same way as you would have in other drafts?

[B]

I think you can always look because there's always room to get better. Like we just say, you know, free agency or whatever, but. And you know, people on Twitter in the chat may not like this, but I could live with Terrence Steele or Nate Thomas as my right tackle. Because you were just a top five offense with those guys playing tackle for you, right? So I don't consider tackling immerse when I'm thinking about Terrence. It's his money, right? So like, yeah, like, hey, Terrence, rub your back. Hey, Terrence, can we get you for a little cheaper right here? If you can get Terrence for cheaper, then I think you're just fine with what you have. I think all the resources should go on the defense. I think running back can get figured out. I think right tackle, even if Terrence goes, you save your money. Nate Thomas, you're fine. Plug Nate Thomas right in and help Nate Thomas here and there. Everything has to go into defense. Cause we all agree you need most of your players on defense and you're gonna get a new defensive coach. That's why I dressed up today. You're gonna have a new defensive coach and he's gonna want the defense tailored how he wants it. You know what I'm saying? So, hey, whoever new guy is, I don't know what the tampering rule Eagleton, you know what I'm saying? Hey, new guy, what you want your safeties to look like, what you want your corners to look like and give that dude flexibility. I'm not really worried about tackle a running back.

[A]

Is that why you're dressed up? You're interviewing for the nudity defense?

[B]

I'm dressed up. And look, I don't hate brother Flooz, man. He don't work here no more. I don't hate brother Floose. Floose made a lot of money doing a bad job. Shot sati. I walked out the door today with just this shirt on, right? But Floose got fired. I said, oh, we gonna win next year. And I threw this mug on cause I felt better, you know what I mean? But shouts out to Floose, man, you did something throughout your time here, bro. But the next coach, I hope the next coach has a great deal in this draft that we have coming up.

[A]

Tommy, how does that move affect what we might be looking for in the draft? Because we don't know who the defensive coordinator is yet. Obviously that'll be a conversation over the next two weeks. However, not having Matt Eber flu does something. What does it do?

[E]

Well, it certainly makes you kind of pause right now in the sense of number one, you're going to take really, since you have holes at all levels of your defense, you're going to take the best player available more than likely, regardless of position. And then when the process comes to a close and you have a new defensive coordinator, that that's when it needs to immediately turn into, okay, what kind of pieces fit your system? We talked about the free agency approach. That's ultimately going to be one of the biggest things here is in the sense of, all right, what can we do in free agency to fill some of those holes on defense? And once that's finished, how do you approach the draft? Does that make you want to keep those two first round picks as opposed to trading something back? So a lot of it since with Matt Eberfluss, it felt like at times the scheme and personnel didn't marry each other. I think they're going to want to get a defensive coordinator in here quickly so that process can start already and they can kind of build this defense in his image.

[A]

The Cowboys just released a statement, by the way, on the releasing of Matt Eberfluss. Having known Matt Eberfluss for decades now, we have a tremendous respect and appreciation for him as a coach and as a person. After reviewing and discussing the results of Our defensive performance this season, though, it was clear that change is needed. This is the first step in that process and we will continue to review as it applies to reaching our much higher expectations. And that's from Jerry Jones.

[B]

I mean, did we send one of those, you know, for like Mike McCarthy? Like, did he get one of those?

[D]

Did his was a. But his contract was an expired one too.

[B]

Did Dan Quinn get one of those?

[A]

Dan Quinn got a new job, new team.

[B]

We ain't gotta, we ain't gotta make public statements about floofs, man. What are you saying, bro?

[A]

The question would be, did Mike Zimmer get one?

[B]

Who cares? What you wasting your ink printing that stuff out. And your fingers muscles. You don't need to type that out about flu. Shouts out to flutes, man, you did your thing and we talking about draft right now because of you play. I love what Dak said. This is the draft show. Pardon me, but I love what Dak said. He was like, hey man, we put points up, we did our thing, we were straight. We topped what, five? You know what I'm saying? That just kind of let me know, like, hey, it's all on defense. So draft show wise, right? Tommy said we can come here and draft anything. I feel you, but I think even if your best receivers on the board, I'm still looking at the other side. All right, who's the pass rush is there? Who's the linebackers there? Who's the safeties there? Because I just don't want to look at offense at all when it comes to allocating resources in the draft.

[A]

When it comes to Matt Eber Fluss, now gone, defensive coordinator, soon to be hired. Do you get a defensive coordinator in here that's going to fit their scheme to the players, or do you have to draft to fit his scheme? Whoever that may be moving forward.

[D]

So I mean, obviously we're going to see how they kind of approach this process. I think my guess is they're going to end up with somebody who's definitely more back seven minded or specifically more secondary minded. And just like last year, I think it was an important thing. When they were looking at offensive coaches, it was like, hey, Terrence Steele is here.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

What is your plan to get him back to where he was? And whoever makes an effective pitch on that, you've got a leg up. As we evaluate things, I think similarly, they think very highly of Savone revelation. That'll be probably a big thing for them. How are you going to make Savone revel work? Because he's here. He's big capital that we've invested. He's got to work. Tell me how you're going to do it. You know, we really love Demar Van Overshone. How are you going to make sure that this all blends together with this? Maybe it's also, hey, we got a coach, an assistant coach here that we like. You going to be cool with, you know, continuing on with Aaron Whitecotton, for instance. We like the work that he's done on the defensive line. Are you cool with that? So I think those are going to be questions that they'll have to ask. So in the end, it's going to have to be, yeah, there's going to be flexibility. But I think I said this the other day to John Owning of pff. If you look at. If you look at what the Cowboys are going to want to do here, I think it's going to be like buffet items. They're saying, we want this. We want somebody who's going to be more prone to blitz. We want somebody who's going to, you know, disguise and rotate coverages a little bit more. We want somebody who's going to be a bigger fan of press, like, check some of those boxes for us. And that's going to be the initial. Kind of clear the room and go, all right, who's still left that we can talk to?

[A]

Kind of take a couple of those names and trim it down just a little bit?

[C]

Yeah, yeah. I think if we're looking at, you know, specifically you talk about the passing game guys, I think you can make a case for pass rush guys, too, or, you know, focusing on guys who specialize in front seven. You've invested so much of the defensive tackle spot, and you have an edge group that the new coordinator can come in and basically mold as he wants it to fit. You have Donovan Aziraku under contract. You have James Houston under contract. That is it. You can bring back a Jadavian Clowney or you could go and get one of these, you know, awesome pass rushers that are in the draft. We could talk about Ruben Bane. I know we're going to talk about him quite a bit, but there's. There's quite a bit of edges in this group that I think could make sense in this first round. You know, if you had that type of capital in the first round, sure. Why not bring in a guy who could specialize in the front seven? I think I'm with you. I just think you could also make the case that, you know, a pass rush guy or A specialist up front could also do a good job as well.

[E]

I think really the what you have to look for in today's NFL if your coordinator is not and really this can go on any side of the ball. If your coordinator is not versatile enough to adapt his players to the scheme or the scheme to the players, then I think it's going to be tough sledding for you. So whether it be front seven, back seven, whatever it is, you need to find somebody who can kind of adjust and play to their players strengths as opposed to all right, this is going to be our bread and butter. We're going to do the same things and maybe not simplify is the right word for it, but they've got their way of doing it and it's that way or the highway. If you can't adapt, if you can't change. I think offenses do way too much of that in the modern day NFL to where you're just not going to be successful on defense if you can't adapt.

[D]

I will say you got to make sure you're. They mean that. And it's not just interview. Yeah, that's because I mean I repurposed it earlier this week but back in February, Matty Bruflus has asked what have you learned most since you were last in Dallas. And he said changing and molding the scheme based on the player's skill sets based on what you have. And that did not prove to be the case.

[C]

Dante Fowler yesterday I caught him in the locker room coming out. He said we got the guys, we just need to put them in the best position to make plays. That's it. I don't care how good you think your scheme is, you have to evolve around your players, take your players opinions on some things and try to put your players in the best position to make plays.

[B]

So Kyle, Bobby, Tommy, Nick, how many vibes, how many players on this team? Because we need seven starts. Six, Seven starters, right. How many dudes are on this team? Sorry Bobby. How many dudes on this team do we think can play? But Floos made them look weird. Right? Like Dante.

[D]

No one had a better year.

[B]

What I'm saying is. What? No, nobody got better.

[A]

No.

[B]

Dante Fowler went from a double digit sack guy to. All right. I'm barely getting on the field. Seven. What? Seven plays? Six plays, five plays.

[D]

Which he did. He did tell Nick yesterday he'd been banged up most of the year.

[B]

Sure. Maris Leopold was a guy that they was ready to aid. Yeah, Mares can't get on the field now. How many dudes are on it? Because we're thinking, oh, we got so many holes. We got to draft so many people. Do we have players? But we just can't trust flu.

[D]

I'm not saying they have the best secondary personnel in the NFL because they clearly don't. That secondary personnel is not that bad. It's not as bad as it performed out there. It is not the worst secondary unit of all time, which is what it basically put up last year. I, I think another coach coming in here probably helps Kaylin Carson, probably helps Revel, I would imagine helps Malik Hooker. And so, I mean, like, I think there are guys on this defense who can play better with a different system or just somebody else communicating them differently because it was clear Matty Berfluse had trouble communicating with players.

[C]

There was one guy that got better Ready Stewart. Ready Stewart.

[D]

But he was not here last.

[A]

You could say the same thing about Jadavian Clowney. Same thing. Late Edition didn't even show up for training camp. And those are the two guys who had better seasons as you went along.

[D]

I'm, I'm keeping, I'm keeping Ready Stewart next year. I, I think he's, I think he's kind of a player.

[A]

Kind of want to play him at safety, though, a little bit, put him on the back end.

[C]

He looked interesting against Denver in that.

[A]

Role, but I just want to, I want to experiment a little bit.

[D]

He's a nice blitz or two.

[A]

Yeah. Tackling a couple things there. All right, when we come back, it's our first Twitter on the 20 of draft season. Plus, we are the draft show. We're going to answer some actual draft comments, conversation questions. Plus, later in the show, we're going to have some draft accountability for the Cowboys from their 2025 draft class. Did they live up to their grade and their expectation? Hear from the panelists from last year's draft show when we return with more after this.

[B]

This is Julian Edelman from Games with Names.

[D]

Now let's get into the serious stuff.

[B]

We're talking football food, specifically Daisy French onion dip.

[E]

That is serious.

[B]

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[A]

This is the Dallas Cowboys.com draft show. Back here on the draft show presented by Miller Light alongside Vach Lombardi. This is your second year on the.

[B]

Draft show sophomore campaign.

[A]

Welcome back the show Nick Harris. This is year three. Yep, year three. After a strong sophomore campaign yourself. So after back for your junior year. It's also a sophomore campaign for Tommy Yarish.

[E]

Resigned my nil deal yesterday.

[A]

Oh, nice botch.

[B]

And I. Yeah, big paper. Big paper.

[A]

He was holding out for a bigger contract. Wanted to wait deadlines, make deals. You know, we've heard that around here.

[B]

Tommy, no matter what, get your money. Get your money because the budget will always run out on you. So get your money.

[A]

Did Texas Tech call you at all to try and up the deal at all?

[E]

They did. But loyalty means something.

[D]

He doesn't play trenches, Texas or quarterback.

[B]

There was a bidding war over Tommy. What I missed.

[A]

Oh, yeah, Texas Tech, their draft pockets.

[E]

What?

[A]

Yeah, the draft nuts out in Lubbock. Really?

[B]

Hey, some yummy.

[A]

Yeah.

[E]

Yeah. That wasn't enough. I like this group. I like this.

[D]

I like this group better so bad.

[B]

Tommy, say nothing about no laws. These people ain't having no bread is what Tommy said. He said.

[A]

He said they ponied up.

[C]

Tommy can be bought like Midland Oil, Venezuela oil.

[A]

I can't believe we had that reference here. Bobby, what year is this for you? Is this four or five? Five. I think it is five.

[D]

I don't know. I've not. I've not been present for day three the last two years. Last year I was sick and then year before that I was just.

[A]

You were just not here. I was chilling mentally.

[D]

Keelan Robinson just really threw me off. Yeah.

[A]

Going. Going to Jacksonville out of Texas. Good running back. Year seven for me. Glad to have you on the draft show. It is our first segment number two, which of course by tradition we answer fan questions. I have the tweet out there right now. Go ahead and go send your fan questions in if you want it, but it's time for some Twitter on the 20.

[E]

Good stuff.

[A]

Chris Beam mid season forum on the Sounder. All right, first one comes from Matthew. He says when it comes to edge rusher, Dallas struggled to get pressure all season long. Is edge rusher at the top of the list. And are there some first round guys that you could possibly look at?

[E]

Yes, absolutely. I think edge is your biggest need defensively right now.

[A]

Biggest need.

[E]

I think so. I think when I look at this, if your defense is what it was last year where you give up 500 and you're stacking needs in the draft where you haven't made any moves in free agency. Absolutely. Pass rushes, most important thing for me. And I think, I think backwards, right. I think defensive tackle, you're good. So I go pass rusher, linebacker, corner safety from there. I think, I think it all starts with. If you affect a quarterback, it certainly makes things different. As for first round guys that could be there, absolutely. I think we already mentioned Ruben Bane as a guy that could be there. I find it very difficult to believe as it stands right now that he can get all the way down to 12.

[B]

Oh, he'll make it.

[E]

But what about David Bailey from Texas Tech? He's been my favorite pass rusher that I've watched so far. Just unbelievably explosive off the line of scrimmage. He wrecks the game. And I think he played really well in the College Football Playoff too. So some of that recent tape was really good against some better competition. But you know, we'll get into some more guys after that. But I think it starts with. With those two as guys that stick out.

[C]

To me, I will say I don't think there's as many top end talent guys as there has been in these last couple of drafts.

[E]

I'd agree with that.

[C]

I think there's more like the middle pack. Okay. You know, top 100 bot into top 100. But the Cowboys getting that number 12 pick I think will help them a lot here if they do try to swing for an edge. Because the only guys I really could point to that I think could make sense at 12 as of today. Reuben Bane. David Bailey.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, I'm not throwing Cash's. How in that conversation. I'm not throwing Keldrick Falk or TJ Parker. I like a lot. I'm not sure. I'm not sure if I'm. Yes, yes, yes. Keldrick Falk from Auburn. Cash is Hal. Texas A and M. David Bailey, Texas Tech. T.J. parker from Clemson. I don't know if I'm throwing him in that conversation just yet, but I, I think I could. But that's, that's probably it as far as. When it, when it comes to edge guys. But it's. I would make the case for linebacker Personally, I, I, I do think you need, I, I think there's really good linebackers in this class, especially this top 15, top 20 range. I think you can go get one that is super unique, whether it be a Sonny Styles or Arvell Reese from Ohio State or a C.J. allen from Georgia who I think may end up being my linebacker. One I love CJ Allen, but I think there's going to be some guys there in that top 15 that you would really rather swing at linebacker that I think production immediately than some of these.

[B]

You know. Nick, you said something. It just put a little, put a little hurt on my soul because every single year.

[C]

Let's fight.

[D]

No, look at him when you say it.

[B]

Every single year there's always this group of dudes that's in the Cowboy range and I like them a lot but it's always one guy that I have to trust that please, Cowboys don't take this guy. Right? So I've seen a lot of, you know, boards or whatever with Kelvin Falk and TJ Parker up there, right. I think they're second round guys. I honestly think that they're second round guys. But how the league tend to work and how the Cowboy, the Cowboys love measurables, they love big long arm guys or whatever and they don't typically go for the shorter arm dudes. Right? So this is something that I wish, I just wish that this just doesn't happen. We just talking about edges right now. Falkin Parker. I hope the Cowboys don't fall in love with that type of guy. Ruben Bane. I do think he'll be around at 12 because teams suck at drafting and teams are going to be like, man, this dude is not as tall as I want. He's not. The arms aren't as long as I want. And I think that that could be a reason why Bane could possibly fall. This could just be, you know, this could be me being optimistic, hoping that Bane falls. But there are trends that kind of say this, you know. You know the league just want those longer arm guys. I'm definitely hoping that the Cowboys don't fall in love with TJ Parker. The closer we get to the draft. Nick, tap us on the shoulder. Hey man, they like him just like Mikel Williams last year.

[D]

So that's.

[B]

I wasn't a big Mikel fan at all. Dallas loved him. I was like, please, somebody take Mikel Williams. They helped us out. You like Mike Williams? We almost fought about it, but please take those guys so they, so that Dallas don't have to Worry about them.

[D]

Who's the most Mikel Williams like player in this draft?

[C]

It would probably be a Keltrick Fogg. Yeah.

[D]

That he. I think he's going to be around that range and I don't know.

[C]

We'll see.

[D]

It's very early in the process, I think. As they go along, though, I would not be surprised just because of how they felt about Mikel Williams if they didn't feel similarly about Keldrick Fogg. I like Bailey. I like Bain. I don't know that either one of them get to 12. Bailey seems like he's like, really starting to rise for a lot of people.

[B]

I think Bailey won't get there.

[D]

Yeah, Bailey is.

[A]

Both guys had phenomenal playoffs.

[D]

Bailey's just. He's such a. When you watch his tape, he's so, like, he's so powerful. Every single time that he strikes an offensive tackle, they stagger, they move every single time. He's got pass rush tools, he's got bend, he's explosive. I love David Bailey. I Bane, I like. I like Bailey more just because I feel like there's a broader skill set there than. Than what you have with Bane. Bane's definitely more power player and, you know, Bulrush type guy, but I think that Falk is definitely going to be somebody that they will end up kind of liking in those range. Who will, in my, in the greatest likelihood, be there?

[C]

Well, if Bailey's not there at 12, can I interest you and his teammate in Romello Heights? Do you think he could be a top 15 guy by the end of this process? I think with his measurables, I think he's going to test fantastic. He's a freak off the edge. Now, we might be shooting a little high here for 12, but maybe the 26. Maybe the 26 or 25 if that packers pick.

[D]

So I. Yeah. And he's one I like. I have not watched him yet. I like when I've seen him, but I've not done like a full study on him yet. And so he's one that I know. The opinions of him, though, are that like, he's ascending. Like. Like he's somebody who's ris and combine and everything else will in all likelihood help him. But I don't know. Dallas has typically shown themselves to be. They really do. Not only like the length and like the prototypical build, but they will. They don't seem to have as much of a problem with edge rushers or defensive linemen in college who didn't necessarily produce big numbers, but like they definitely seem to be more on the projection end and saying, yeah, but we think we can do this with him. And Falk was that way. I mean, what he had three tackles for loss this year or something at Auburn it was not much.

[A]

Two sacks in 29 tackles.

[E]

He doesn't strike me as much of a pass rusher. I think he's really good against the run. But if you're looking for a guy that's going to get you double digit sacks or something like that, folks, just not your guy.

[A]

Dallas again, just to remind Everybody at home, first round they have the 12th overall pick and then Green Bay's pick which is going to fluctuate based on what happens in the playoffs. We are all Bears fans this weekend. Bear down, baby. Go Chicago. Take down the Green Bay packers and push that pick further up for us moving forward. Then after that, the next pick for Dallas would be in the fourth round right now slotted for 112. Then they have a fifth round pick which is right now slotted for 150. Then they would anticipate probably two comp picks. Right, two fifth round comp picks. So you're probably going to get two guys. Two guys at the back half of the fifth round, most likely. That of course is going to change. And then they have the Giants seventh round pick and the Chiefs seventh round pick.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's the ultimate draft overlook in terms of what the Cowboys have at the moment. So if you're not going to get an edge rusher early.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You would anticipate having to try and pigeonhole one later in the draft. That's what makes this tough. And going back to Tommy's point in that first segment, you got to, you got to find a way either to get back into day two and sure. Up somewhere else because right now you're, you're struggling to pigeonhole these other position groups of need. Whether it's edge rusher, linebacker, corner, all three could be a possibility at 12. All three could be a possibility in the 20s. But you can't necessarily leave this draft or free agency without adding somebody at each of those three positions.

[B]

Are they.

[D]

Would you classify Dallas's win now?

[B]

Yes.

[D]

Like, like in team.

[A]

I would do if you've got a franchise quarterback. Yes.

[D]

Philosophy wise, I think their team building philosophy looks and goes. We're trying to win right now.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

The other aspect of this that you got to wonder in terms of the way they attacked free agency versus the way they use those two first round picks is also historically what positions have been ready to contribute as rookies right away. Linebackers do have a much higher hit rate of contributing right away at the NFL level than edge rushers do. Edge rushers don't always click right away. There's. I talked to a defensive line coach one time who had said, like, just most of them come into the league, they don't know how to use their hands. And so because of that, they really struggle the first year. Even the most polished advanced technique guy that we thought we saw in the draft last year as an edge rusher felt like Donovan, as Rocco was way up there as like a guy who understood how to do it. He still. He finished the year with two sacks. Should have been three, but he finished here with two sacks. And that. It just makes me wonder if part of the strategy also has to incorporate. All right, but with those two first round picks, who do we trust? We could get at a position to contribute now and then address maybe veterans on the edge rush group and free agency.

[B]

I don't think you can be afraid to draft a safety. Well, not a safety, but Caleb down safety from Ohio State. I don't think you could be afraid to draft him. You know what I'm saying? Like, if it's not him, I'm not looking at safety. If it's not Bane or Bailey, I'm not really looking at edge. I'm just trying to get the best possible dude I can get at 12. And then when you get to 19 because the Bears are going to win, then you kind of, you know, go from there. But go ahead, Kyle.

[A]

This is from Josh. Is there a position group where you would feel comfortable double dipping in this draft with the limited draft capital that you have moving forward?

[B]

Does DBs count as a group?

[A]

I would say separate them between safety and corner because they'll draft safety. I mean, they'll draft corners. They haven't drafted a safety since they drafted Donovan Wilson at any point in time, Kyle's time, any point in the draft.

[D]

Linebacker.

[E]

Yeah, linebacker and edge linebacker be my one.

[C]

Linebacker's like.

[B]

Is that double dipping, though?

[D]

No, I'm. I'm saying. I'm saying I. Linebacker and edge are two position groups. That will be fine if they double.

[B]

Oh, if they double dip.

[C]

I think. I think linebacker's super deep. Like if you want to go get two off ball guys who can man the middle, you know, you can even look later in the draft. Guys like Lander Barton out of Utah, Torian York out of Texas. A and M. Bryce. Bryce Betcher, I believe, is how you pronounce It. We're gonna get these pronunciations right.

[D]

We're getting time.

[C]

It's day one, Bryce Betcher from Oregon. But there's. There's going to be some guys, and I. I'm Mohamed Tour out of Miami, man. He had an awesome quarterfinal against Ohio State. These are. I think these are some guys you could. You could swing on later on and. And be able to double dip Aiden Fisher from Indiana. I want to throw another one in there, but that's. That's probably the one I would look at.

[B]

Why are we talking about fifth round guys on day one, man? What y' all doing, man? Yeah, Shout out, Nick, man. It's January still, man.

[A]

Go ahead. I'm gonna give you a name that you probably would know. This is from Matt.

[B]

What's up, Matt? He.

[A]

He specifically asked Tommy and Bobby for this question. So you might have an idea of where it's. Where it's headed from.

[C]

You know, I went to Texas, too. You know, people forget about that for a little bit. Just for a little bit.

[A]

Longhorn, Nick Harris, Mr. Michael Taff, safety.

[C]

I don't want to hear down year.

[A]

No, no, down year. Of course, he's got all sorts of talent. He was banged up. I called the Mississippi State, Texas game this year. He didn't play in that game because he was hurt. He was in and out of the lineup. Would you trust that he has a bounce back with a possible day three pick?

[B]

Or.

[A]

What's the earliest that you would consider seeing a guy Michael Taff in the fold?

[E]

I have a feeling Bobby and I are gonna agree on this.

[D]

No, look, I. I mean, to me, the safety position right now, if you're. If you're. If you're talking about, like, where to address safety, it's downs in the first, and that's it. Like. Like, that's. That's all you have. I. I think if you end up trading back, are you picking up more capital? Okay.

[C]

All right.

[D]

When we get second or third round, like, I can look at the. The Oregon kid. The. Yeah, I. I can. I can go there. I can go that direction. There are all sorts of, like, different directions you can go. If you're looking at, you know, day three, maybe it's like usc, you got, like, Bishop Fitzgerald. Like, that's. That's fine if you want to throw out a guy like that. Okay, this is not. This is again, talking about win.

[A]

Now.

[D]

I don't want to, like, take the position of safety and go, like, all right, I'm going to wait till day three to address my Safety problems and I'm going to do it there that I'm not in favor of that.

[C]

Can I give you one name to keep an eye on to make a potential. Go ahead.

[A]

I want to. I want to hear.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[E]

Just real quick now. Just really. Yeah. Michael Taft is not with the Cowboys need at safety right now. I think they can. They're better players that you can get earlier than or even at that same position at the same round than. Than Taft. I think as culture guy like that that's. He checks all those boxes. But if you're going to trust him to start for you say I think you can get better.

[C]

I agree with Tommy completely there. I think late fifth, sixth maybe to swing on him because he is a smart, instinctual player at the end of the day limited athletically. I think he could be a starter for you. I don't think you should expect that from him. I think at the very least though, he'll be a guy that makes the 53 and gives you special teams value and I think you should be trying to swing for those.

[E]

I think he is going to play on a really good special teamer.

[C]

But one guy that I do want to throw out at safety that I think could sneak in back first round is AJ Hall, Seattle. That is definitely one I want to throw out there. I think he could really rise in this process.

[E]

He had a really good year. He's fun to watch.

[D]

Yeah. And obviously it's still everybody's tackling as we go a little bit further into it. But how many starting caliber safeties year one do you think there are in this draft? Just downs, Halsey Thienneman, you think year one they could go?

[C]

I think Kamari Ramsey could. I would say 4. I want to learn more about Emmanuel McNeil Warren out of Toledo just because Toledo has put out a defensive starter each of the last two drafts. On defense, Quinion Mitchell's going to be, you know, an all pro corner. So I definitely want to learn more about Emmanuel McNeil Warren. But I would say three to the possibility of five. I really do.

[A]

The Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Cowboys media team has had some high success with some guys out of Toledo playing safety. Just Barry Church.

[C]

Shout out to Barry.

[A]

I'm just giving a shout out to my guy now. You mentioned Caleb Downs. There was a question on Twitter on the 20 about downs. Watch. When it comes to how you would draft him at 12, is he special enough to get drafted at 12? Because the last safety. Tommy and I were talking about this yesterday. The last safety to be drafted that high.

[D]

Right.

[A]

Was Kyle Hamilton in the NFL?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is he that type of player to be drafted at 12 and feel good about it?

[B]

Safeties are weird because I think the most premium safeties are like the rangy free safety guys. Like those are the guys that I think should always go higher. I think he's going to be more of a around the box, maybe too high, play halves at a time type of guy, playing the nickel chess piece type dude. So those dudes maybe like fall a little bit less. But I think he's one of the better players in this draft and it's going to be him versus whoever else is available right now. And if we're not window dressing our board, we can't be like, oh, well, I'll take mellow height over Caleb Bailey because we need edge and we don't take safeties. He's a much better player than height right now. You know what I'm saying? So in that way, if you're sitting at 12, I just think that he just, that he just makes sense. Caleb Downs makes sense if he's the best player there. And I think he could be a player that's there because teams suck at drafted. And even though he may be a top five player in this draft, safeties fall all the time.

[E]

I would say with Downs, he is more often than not the best player on the field. I mean, I think he has been that for the last two years. Hamilton was the all the physical traits guy, like big, long arms. Yes. Kyle Hamilton, he can run Ravens, he can run everywhere and he can make all those plays. Downs is a little bit more compact and he's. I mean, he's built really well and can run all over the place. But what stands out to me is his football IQ and how smart of a player he is. He's always in the right place at the right time. He is a great leader of the defense. What stood out when he came into college was Nick Saban just immediately off the bat said, this guy's probably the best safety we've got since Manga Fitzpatrick. And that was when he was a true freshman. I mean, Nick Saban's not a guy to throw out compliments like that. So that I was like, okay, well, we'll be interested to see how good he is. And he was that good for Alabama in year one. And he has been kind of the heartbeat of this Ohio State defense, which is a national champion last year and then not so much this year. But downs, I think more often than not is going to be the best player on the field. So that tells you if he's there at 12. If you feel like he is the best player available, which more likely than not he will be. I think it's hard for me right now to envision a scenario where he isn't. I wouldn't necessarily say, you know, hold off from that.

[C]

I'm not sure he gets out of the top five as of today.

[B]

Oh. Which.

[D]

Wow. I wouldn't be that. He'd be the first top top 10 safety since Jamal Adams.

[A]

I think.

[C]

I think that's a shoot, but I think is a shoe, so.

[D]

And I feel like we've had this before with Hamilton. I'm trying to remember who else was this way. There was somebody else in the last couple years who we all felt like that's such an easy time. Derwin James was like that. Where everybody's like, this is such an easy top 10 player. And then they always fall into the teens. Branch, some people thought his corner, though, so I just don't know why. If that was to me, Caleb Downs is out of realistic players because I like, I don't think Arvell Reese is going to be there at 12 from Ohio State. To me, Caleb Downs, either of what could reasonably happen is dream scenario at 12. If you can get like, if I can get guys pushed down the board a little bit because it's always. You start thinking too optimistically this early and then as it goes on, you're. They're not there. But. But Caleb downs to 12 and then like C.J. allen get down to like 19, 20. If that's where you end up picking. If you get Allen and Downs, like to me immediately, that's two impact stars and I would be fine. All right, go fix edge through free agency. Go find another veteran corner through free agency. But this right here, like that to me fixes a number of your issues on defense.

[B]

You want. Please, go ahead. Some. Some real. Some real good downs film. Because I think sometimes people look at him as a box safety, so they think of him, you know, like a Donovan Wilson type guy. Right. But some real good film. Watch him last year in the playoffs. They just let him run around and do everything. They'll put two safeties behind him and just kind of have him robbing and just kind of gravitate to the football. He was always around the football, making plays in the run game plays in the pass. He was everywhere. Nick, I don't know if he go top five, man, but if somebody drafted top five, I wouldn't say that they crazy. Yeah, I wouldn't say that. They're crazy.

[E]

Cowboys can use them if they get Allen and downs. As it stands right now, I think he fixed a lot of problems and there's some veteran guys in free agency that you can get from the edge rusher position. I don't think we can talk about names yet, but nonetheless, there are some guys that I think you could say, okay, I think you're taking a step in the right direction. Whether or not you sign them to long term deals at edge. And we talk about clowning, that's probably a guy they want to bring back. But there are some other guys out there where you're like, all right, we can work with this for now and then see if we can get another step from Ezraku and see if we can get an edge rusher elsewhere.

[C]

And I wonder how much future scouting goes into the 20, 27 draft. Because if you look at the 27 draft, the guys you expect to be in the first round at edge. Unreal.

[E]

Oh, my God.

[C]

Unreal crop. Colin Simmons, Dylan Stewart. That's just to mention a couple. There's going to be a TO.

[B]

It's January, man. It's 26, man. Get through this one.

[C]

I would be shocked if you go through your film study and you don't find a couple of these 27 guys where you're like, oh my God, I.

[B]

Would do focus to see them.

[A]

That happened.

[D]

That happened last year when we were studying and I saw Dylan Stewart and I was like, Holy cow, he's 18.

[B]

Yeah.

[E]

Yeah, you're going to watch Texas film this year and say that about Colin Simmons.

[A]

There's a lot of guys next year.

[E]

That's a.

[A]

That's a loaded draft class. It really is.

[B]

All right, one more thing, please. I got a question for Bobby. Earlier when you was talking about the Cowboys dbs, you said guys that could play. You said, yeah, man, Carson Revel, you know, Hooker, Bland. You didn't say Donovan Wilson. Fine, cool. Don't worry about it.

[D]

Free agent. I don't think he's coming back.

[B]

It's all good. Do you think Caleb Downs can play today, right now and be effective today?

[D]

Yep. And I think he is interchangeable. He could do whatever you want at safety and I think he. I think he can do some nickel stuff. To me, Caleb Downs is arguably on defense, is the most plug and play ready player defensively in the draft. I think I agree.

[A]

That sounds intriguing to me because you need somebody now and you need somebody on the back end of that defense.

[B]

Sounds Whoops.

[A]

Right now?

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

All right, when we come back on the Draft Show, a little bit of draft accountability from the 2025 class for this Cowboys team, both amongst the group and amongst the Cowboys across the room. When we come back with more of the Draft show right after this.

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What are you waiting for? Get [e-mail] this is the Dallas Cowboys.com draft show. Back here on the draft show presented by Miller Light. We have some reads that we have to get through. How about this? Cowboys nation. Tom Gibson has been named your 2025 Dallas Cowboys Fan of the Year. Presented by Captain Morgan for his dedication to the team and for spicing up the game. Vote for Tom to be named the ultimate NFL Fan of the Year at NFL.com Fan of the Year. This segment is also brought to you by your Texas Ford dealers. Ford is the best in Texas. Back with Fotch Lombardi, Nick Harris, Tommy Yarish, Bobby Belt. I'm Kyle Yeomans with Chris Beam in the back. This is our draft show crew throughout the 2025 season. Well, we've. I've seen the comments. I've seen kind of the replies all the way through. We still love Brian Broaddus. That was his decision. It wasn't our decision. He's going to focus on crown media and trying to grow his own thing.

[D]

Yeah, it was not an eber flutter.

[A]

It was not an eber fluts thing. Thanks for the clarification.

[D]

Dq. This is more dq.

[A]

We appreciate Brian. We still love Brian and if you're frustrated not seeing him on the show, we get it. You're probably going to see him on the show at some point in some capacity, especially whenever we get closer to draft weekend as well. Just to keep that in Mind love Brian Broadus. Continue his support and all the way through as well. He showed some love to Nick Harris this morning. Right on Twitter. He said, I love me some Nick Harris.

[C]

I love me some Brian Brock.

[A]

It's like the one time we've heard that before.

[B]

Let me say what I love about Nick Harris though. What's that I love about Nick Harris? You know, Nick Harris gotta be. You know, he's a pro's pro, so he gotta be neutral for the most part. But all the I hate floose tweets that I put out. Cause I ain't gotta be a pro. Nick was right there liking him. I saw him.

[D]

Likes aren't public. You can't prove it.

[B]

I saw him. Nick was right there just liking all the.

[A]

Wait, you gotta pull back the curtain.

[B]

All the men and inflammatory things I said about flu's boy. Nick was right there. I wish about all the uber fluids. But everything I said about Mike McCarthy, Bobby beat right there. You know what I'm saying? So all the coaches, I hate, man. I got backup boy. I feel good.

[A]

One day they'll get it right. One day they'll get these, man.

[B]

I hope, man. Cause Dak what, 30, my age. 32, 33, 34. How old that is?

[A]

Yeah, he's 33 next year.

[B]

We ain't got long, man. Come on, Dak. Come on, defense.

[A]

All right, little trade or. Excuse me, Draft accountability from last year, 2025 class. Were they worth your grade within the group from what you had on your board last year and were they worth the Cowboys grade and where they took them in the 2025 draft? We're just going to work down the board as much as we can. Starting with the first overall pick for Dallas last year, Mr. Tyler Booker. Nick, where did you have him and did he live up to the expectation?

[C]

Yeah, I think we all hit on Tyler Booker. Had him as a first round great.

[A]

Should have started with Voch because he's the one that really.

[B]

Tyler Booker was the eighth on my board. He was my eighth best guy and I was just blown away by him whooping. Folk, I think we live in this age where guards are 305 pounds. We're gonna talk about them soon. But Book just had the size and power. I thought the movement stuff was kind of overrated. Clayton Adams came on this show in day three and said, hey man, we not gonna ask anybody to do nothing that they're not good at. And the one thing that makes these rookies kind of work in year one is if you strong as Hell, and Book's strong as hell. So even when technically perfect, he was strong as hell. Now some things he can clean up. Slants and gap exchanges and all this kind of stuff. Stunts, they kind of whooped up on him a little bit. But he's a rook. What you want him to do? I think next year that's all like mental. He can knock that out. But peanut butter Book, which is him coming back bigger and stronger, whatever. Peanut butter Book gonna be stupid next year. We all hit on that one.

[D]

I didn't. I mean I liked him, but I did not have him in the first round like you guys did. I had him as a second. I thought he played above where had him. Had him 18 on my stack. So I mean I didn't have him like way low. It was like near top of the second round. But he played better than I even thought he would Year one. So definitely hit for the Cowboys.

[A]

I'm right there with you. Adam has a high second round grade and I had him at 22 on my board. So yeah, I think he played above and beyond. If you were to redraft this class. Yeah, yeah, he'd probably be a top 10 pick. I would argue he'd be right in that conversation.

[D]

I think, I think NFL.com did one of those during the year and yeah, he ended up like nine or something.

[A]

Yeah, that'd probably be about right.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Donovan Azaraku, second round pick. This is where I'll start with Nick Harris.

[C]

Yeah, this was certainly my guy. I, I had him as my. One of my last first round grades. I think I only had 15. I can't find my stack for some reason, but I, I think I only had 15 first round grades last year and if I did, then Ezraku was like 14. I just love the athleticism out of Ezraku coming out of Boston College. However, I don't think he played like a first round pick this year necessarily. I think he was fantastic. Don't get me wrong. I, I think you look at the pressure rate. The thing that really surprised me from him was his run game ability as his run game ability was fantastic. But I think he probably played up to a second round grade this year. But I think he still does have the potential. You get him under the right system, under the right coordinator, that could put him in the, in the best position to succeed and get after the quarterback. Then I think he could easily get to that first round billing. No doubt.

[E]

Yeah, I had Ezraku as my last first round as rusher and I think I'm With Nick, it's, it was he came in with so much production from a passer standpoint, led the nation in sacks and for whatever reason it seemed like a lot of what you saw in his college tape wasn't necessarily what he was doing on the field. And we talked a little bit earlier about how pass rushers, sometimes they need to learn how to use their hands in the NFL and they need to learn how to rush the NFL. That's one of the things Brian Schottenheimer would always talk about when it came to Ezraku. And so does that mean with a new staff in here and some more work in the off season that he can take that jump next year? Maybe so. And certainly that's what the Cowboys are hoping. I would certainly be interested and I, I, I've talked with a couple of you guys about this, about if we're talking about defensive staff now and this is not a, a slight at Aaron White Cotton or whatever the job that he's doing. I think he's done an excellent job and could possibly be on the staff and should be on the staff next year. I don't think it hurts to add a pass rush specialist to the staff to try and help some of your pass rushers, especially given how poor they were in the pass rush last season. You know, is that something that maybe you just need those extra tweaks and that extra eye looking at things to, to help this Cowboys defense. But as far as where we put him, I don't think he lived up to the billing in his rookie season. But with those kinds of guys there's still plenty of time.

[A]

Does he have more upside than some of the other second round picks that Dallas has been at edge rush over the last couple of years? Sam Williams.

[C]

Sam Williams will be looking for another team in March.

[A]

Exactly. So I think he lived up to the expectation. Maybe not the first round grade expectation right now, but he can still very easily move into a, a prominent edge rusher on this team.

[D]

So I'm going to have to shave my head bald because I had made a proclamation at the beginning of the season. I was like, as long as he's healthy, minimum six sacks as a rookie. Because I was like the pass rush tool, being in there in easy pass rush situations. He'll be able to get it. So that didn't work out. But I'm still, I'm still. No, it wasn't. He should have gotten half a Clowney's and then he should have gotten, I mean I'm stretching Clowney a Little bit. But I think he would have gotten the other two and a half in the second half of the game the.

[C]

Other day and three more that one day.

[D]

Right, exactly. But if you look at like I thought immediately, he can come in here and rush the passer, the run game is going to take some work. Run game. He was great right away, and he just was not able to finish a lot of these pass rushes. So I'm actually more optimistic about him now than I was last year. Just because the aspect that didn't come through, I still know that's within him because I've seen it. Like, I see flashes of it at the NFL level and I've seen it on tape during college, but I think that I had him second round. He was like, play. I can't find my stack either. Like, other than little notes.

[C]

I think had him at 31.

[D]

I was gonna say he was like right around 30 something, but he was. I think that he was really, really good this year. I think he was a success.

[A]

Savone Rebel, kind of an interesting one because of his inability to stay on the field consistently. I mean, he coming off of a huge injury, so he got on the field, and even when he got on the field, I still feel like he struggled to play 100% healthy football. Had the brace on the entire season, didn't necessarily play a high brand. What would you say? I'll start with you, Tommy, on this one. What would you say about Savone Rebel?

[E]

Yeah, I don't think this was what they were. Obviously, when you come back from a major knee injury and you're wearing a brace like that, it's difficult. And I think you saw some of those struggles where it seemed a little stiff, and I think it was because of that brace. Obviously. I'm not trying to make excuses for the kid. He can play better, sure, but. But I think you saw some limited movement, and if you don't believe me, I think you go back and watch some of the tape from this year and then watch some of his tape from East Carolina when he was healthy, and you look at two different players in terms of how they're able to move. So I really believe that with a full off season where he's able to have a training camp, because, remember, he didn't have a training camp either with the Cowboys. He was hurt the whole time. With a full training camp and he's able to get that brace off his knee and be moving, be fully healthy again. I think this kid's going to be a really good player. I love him a lot and I think that he's going to be a plus player for this defense for a long time time.

[B]

What if he got hurt again?

[D]

I don't think he. I don't think he was comfortable playing with the brace at all.

[E]

I think.

[D]

I think. I think a bit he was there was trying to remember it was Detroit. I think it was maybe whatever the previous road game was to that maybe it was Vegas. He. He could not stop touching his knee and like fiddling with that brace after every single play. And so I think it just wasn't a comfort thing for him. I think he was healthy. There was rust but I mean I think he's healthy. There was rust and you got to knock that off. But I think the other thing was just he was not comfortable playing with that brace on 100 a red sh.

[C]

Third year for him. And. And the getting him on the field was just to get him get his feet wet. And I, I think you don't really know what you have with Savone Rebel right now whatsoever.

[D]

Which there's a danger too and that we were talking about that a little bit this morning on. On the fan. There's a danger in. Do you want to put him out there and trust that he's going to have the mentality of being able to put his rookie year into proper context and not get discouraged by it. Yeah. Because some Jalen Tolbert that like famously around here got him in trouble year one where he just. He couldn't. It rocked his confidence for his entire stay here. Revel. You hope that he's got a little bit of that. But that was something that you I'm sure would have to weigh is just like is he going to be able to properly contextualize the growth that has to occur here.

[C]

I caught up with Savone on Friday. It was the last time I saw him before because he didn't play Sunday. And then he was in a locker room yesterday. He said he's really excited to get the brace off, get training this offseason, have the healthy off season and get back to 100%. And he was never at 100% this year. And you can't. You can't evaluate him correctly until you see that happen. I'm glad you mentioned it. The next coordinator is going to have to have a plan for him and I hope that that's part of what the plan is going forward.

[A]

Continuing with Revel real quickly when it comes to next year and playing fully healthy. Let's say he is fully Healthy for a full 17 game season. What would he need to show you from a film standpoint or from a production standpoint to be worth a third round pick next year?

[C]

What is it? The right knee I think he's been dealing with. I need to see that right knee cut the same way that left knee cuts. Because when you see that left knee cut, man, you see it, you see. And when a guy at six foot two and a half can cut that quickly, that fluidly, that's what makes him an all pro corner. That's what makes him why Brian Broad has had him as his 11th best player in the draft. Voch you had him at 18. That's, that's, that's the type of ability you can get from him. But if, if that, if that right knee never comes back, then, you know, that's, that's a little bit of a concern.

[A]

Yeah. Moving on to. Did you have something else?

[D]

No, I was just gonna say on the idea of whatever coordinator comes in here, I think whoever pitches the idea of let's play to a strength, let's get him up there pressing guys and let his instincts take over and just let him play football. I think that's going to be the most compelling argument that the cowboys hear.

[A]

Jaden Blue.

[C]

He hurt his left knee.

[A]

Left knee, yeah. Jaden Blue.

[C]

Fascinating one, huh?

[B]

Hey man, we saw a game.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Out of, out of 17. That was cool. You know what I'm saying? I don't think it's the physical with him. I think shotty on track. Man. If you can't do xyz, then we not gonna see you play. And there were times early in the season where he did play. All right. I wasn't really blown away. He didn't really do anything. That just jumped out to us. I honestly thought that Jaydun Bleu was like a third round type talent. But maybe he failed to the fifth round for some of those reasons. I don't know. I mean, you know what I'm saying? Bob had to tell us. But hey man, it is what it is. I'm not gonna move forward like we talked about. Like, what do we do when we sign a running back? Do we draft a running back? Like, I'm not gonna move forward. Like, all right, Jaydon, you the one guy, you know what I'm saying? I'm gonna move forward hoping that Williams gets a cool little deal that he can come back and Jaydon could keep being two and three and he'll work on.

[A]

I had him in the fifth last year. I Had him at. Yeah, middle of the fifth, maybe upper echelon of the fifth round. I feel like a fifth round pick for him has been pretty accurate because a fifth round pick, you don't expect him to come in and start. You expect him to come in and play. I would say maybe he underachieved a little bit because he wasn't active as much as I wanted him to be active. Whether that's from a mental side of the game, from a pass protection, that was my big knock on him is that he could not pass protection and he fumbled the football. And we saw both of those things flare at different times this season. I think when it comes to Jaden Blue, I think a 5th round pick has been accurate on what we've seen from him so far.

[C]

Go ahead, you got it.

[B]

You got it.

[C]

I need to research something. So you got it.

[B]

Okay.

[E]

So I had a fifth on him too, and I think that's accurate. Everything that I heard about Jaden Blue coming into the draft and then when he got to the Cowboys was, you know, this is somebody that needs to learn how to be a professional, is going through that process. I think that was a part of it too. Brian Schottheimer mentioned it several times. Hey, this is a guy who's still learning about the NFL, learning what it means to be a professional and play in this league. And I think that was a process that took a little bit longer. And sure, we saw him play in this last game with the running backs banged up and that speed is again, something Brian John mentioned. I can change games. It's just I think the way he was utilized in college and the way that he can be utilized in the NFL is very different. Steve Sarkeesian. Love those wheel routes, getting the running backs out in space and sometimes they kind of get forgotten with how much pre snap motion and different looks that he gives opposing defenses. So Jaden Blue is a benefactor of that. But between the tackles, things like that, that's stuff that he still needs to work on, get stronger. Obviously, ball security was a huge problem in college and he had a fumble this year that was pretty tough. So, you know, there's a lot of potential there, but I think there's still a lot of work that needs to be done too.

[C]

These were my notes on Jaden Blue last year. Burst and acceleration can make him a dangerous weapon, but intention and application will need to be there.

[E]

Yep.

[C]

And I'm not sure if we got the intention and application from him at the 100% level that he need and I. I fifth round at the end of the day, probably, you know, pretty solid as far as, like, where he ended up being and. And what they got out of him. But when you look at some of the running backs that were drafted after him, it starts to make you go like Devin Neal, Kyle Manungai, Jakori, Crosky, Merritt, even La Quint Allen got in for. For Jacksonville. You know, these are some guys that I, I liked that I. I thought they could have sworn.

[A]

Yeah, man. Guy.

[D]

For sure.

[A]

That's.

[C]

Yeah, I was big man. Guy, guy. Another guy.

[D]

Fifth round running backs to me should be in given circumstances, like, should be able to come in and contribute at a higher level than Jaden Blue did at times. Because. Because the position has been devalued the way that it kind of has in recent years. Then when you take a running back in the fifth, it's not unheard of to have them come in and contribute right away.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

So that. That's a frustrating aspect of it. I think learning how to be a pro is a big thing for him. Obviously, it's pass protection stuff. It's the fumbling. I always point to the Miles Sanders run against Philly in week one where people are like, well, Jaden Blue would have scored on that one. I was like, jaden Blue. That would have been a loss for 2 yards because Miles Sanders was patient, set up the blocks, and Jaden Blue doesn't do that right now. The biggest benefit for Jaden Blue is that he has Malik Davis here right now, because Malik Davis, there was a time younger in his career where the Cowboys were like, you need to learn how to be a pro. And he did. And he's become a guy that Dak Prescott praises in a big way. So there's a living example here in the locker room for Jaden Blue of like, hey, here's a guy that we have the same sort of questions about, and he's become this guy. You can be this guy, too.

[E]

I love that.

[A]

That's a great point. And that's going to end us here on this first episode of the draft show. Maybe we'll get to some of the other ones, but really, those were the big names that we.

[B]

Shemar James. I had a seven on him.

[A]

Shamar. So did he.

[B]

Did he up exactly what I thought he was? I didn't think he was processing all that well. I was like, man, I don't think he fast enough to overcome that line. Lack of processing. What are you doing lined up way back there? I wasn't a fan we didn't even.

[D]

Get into Nick's awful Tyler shuck tape.

[C]

I was just about to say I'm not giving up on Tyler Shuck yet. I think he's still bad.

[A]

You're not giving up that he's gonna follow.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

I know he might win rookie of.

[B]

The year, but I'm not good tape you got out.

[D]

Oh, man, that's a fantastic tape in New Orleans.

[C]

Yeah, I am. I have to be.

[B]

I wish over that though.

[C]

Vince Young once won rookie of the year too.

[A]

Where's he at? Rg oh, wow. Wow, that's tough. All right, when we come back on Thursday, we're going to spend the entire show talking defense. Everybody good with that? Let's talk some defense. We're going to name some prospects. We're going to see some guys names that we talked about today. We're going to give some scouting reports and really dive in to what the Cowboys can do to fix this defense and what the next defensive coordinator may have to work with in 2026. That's going to do it for us here on the draft show. Thanks for watching over the last hour for Vach Lombardi, Nick Harry, Tommy Yarish and Bobby Belt. Chris Beam in the back. I'm Kyle Yeomans. We'll see you next time on Thursday, 11am Central Time on the draft show. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys.com and the Dallas Cowboys Football club. How about this Cowboys? Did you know Tide has been upgraded to provide an even better clean in cold water? Tide is specifically designed to fight any stain you throw at it. Even in cold butter.

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