Cowboys Legend Issues Big Draft Warning to Jerry Jones

The Dallas Cowboys are firmly in offseason mode, meaning a good chunk of the fanbase is already looking ahead to the 2025 NFL draft.

America's Team is currently heading into April's draft with 10 selections, including the 12th overall pick. The Cowboys should be able to snag a game-changing player in Round 1, and one prospect that they've been often linked to in mock drafts is Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

After all, Dallas' backfield left much to be desired last season and Jeanty has the potential to be one of the NFL's top RBs for years to come. But as much as Cowboys fans would love to see the Boise State product add to the roster, one franchise legend warns that drafting the 21-year-old stud would be a massive mistake.

Cowboys News: Emmitt Smith Warns Against Drafting RB in Round 1

Legendary Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith recently sat down with RG's DJ Siddiqi to discuss the current state of the franchise. When asked about how he'd feel if Dallas drafted Jeanty with Pick No. 12, the Pro Football Hall of Famer made it clear that he isn't a fan of the idea.

"I think if (draft an RB in Round 1), they hurt themselves," Smith said. "No disrespect to Ashton Jeanty, but at the end of the day, we have bigger problems than just having a running game."

It isn't hard to see why fans would want to draft Jeanty after the Cowboys boasted one of the worst run games in the NFL last season. Meanwhile, the Broncos RB just paced the nation in carries (374), rushing yards (2,601), and total touchdowns (30), leading to his being a top-15 pick across most mock drafts.

Having said that, Smith doesn't think Jeanty's talent is enough to improve the Cowboys as long as their myriad of other issues persists.

"You still have the same offensive line, you still have the same old offensive mentality," the eight-time Pro Bowl RB said. "There are a lot of things that need to be corrected. I think it begins with the philosophy of the organization."

Smith went on to discuss how the Cowboys' biggest issue is that they lack a concrete identity. America's Team went from having a clear-cut identity in the 1990s to looking like a team that doesn't know how to win when it counts for the last 30 years.

"We've gotten away from the true brand of who (the Cowboys) are," Smith added. "When you think about the Pittsburgh Steelers, you think about hard-nosed, hardworking, you think about the city of Pittsburgh itself and what they stand for. That's how they play football. When you think about Baltimore, it's the same way."

If anyone knows about winning, it's Smith. The NFL's all-time rushing leader dominated the league throughout his 15-year run, racking up 18,355 rushing yards and 164 TDs while winning three Super Bowls and an MVP award. Even though he played a big role in the 90s Cowboys' success, Smith also knows that was a team effort.

"(The Cowboys) have to look deep within themselves and really figure out who they want, what they want and what the organization wants to be," he said.

We'll see if Jones & Co. heed Smith's words when the Cowboys are on the clock in a few months. Round 1 of the 2025 NFL draft begins at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on Thursday, Apr. 24.

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