3 Most Likely Cowboys Draft Targets With the No. 12 Pick

The Dallas Cowboys have a chance to make some serious noise in the 2025 NFL season after a down year in 2024 thanks largely to injuries suffered by the team throughout the year. Obviously, the Cowboys have been without Dak Prescott for most of the season but they also spent a good chunk of time without their best defensive player, Micah Parsons.

This is a team that was consistently contending in the NFC East the last handful of years and perhaps Jerry Jones underestimated how much it would sting losing Dan Quinn and a host of role players who have been so important to this team in recent years.

But the Cowboys are due for a big-time bounce back in 2025 thanks to the 2025 NFL Draft class which is loaded up at some key positions this team needs help at. But what directions would make the most sense for Dallas with the 12th overall pick? What players will realistically be available and could be instant contributors on this team?

1. Luther Burden, WR, Missouri

Throughout the course of the 2024 season, we finally saw the development of wide receiver Jalen Tolbert for this Dallas Cowboys offense. Coupled with the inclusion of KaVontae Turpin a little bit more in the offensive gameplan, the passing game for Dallas took some baby steps forward despite the absence of Dak Prescott for the majority of the season.

Dallas desperately needed Tolbert to make strides in 2024 because we're not likely to see Brandin Cooks retained this offseason.

Even with the emergence of Tolbert, however, the Cowboys could be in line to target another top-tier receiver if the opportunity presents itself in the 2025 NFL Draft. I'm not sure there are many better values in this class than Luther Burden out of Missouri at 12 overall.

Burden is a big-time playmaker with after the catch ability who can create offense without needing four or five seconds to get open downfield. He is a threat at every level and would help take pressure off of CeeDee Lamb. Teams would need to account for this guy on every play. With Dallas's investment in Dak Prescott, it only makes sense to give him as many weapons as possible.