Jerry Jones Urged to Take Bold Gamble Despite Strong Warning as Ashton Jeanty’s 1,660-YD Substitute Turns Heads

As the 2025 NFL Draft looms, Dallas Cowboys find themselves at a critical crossroads. The roster has glaring needs, and every move will be scrutinized under a microscope. Some fans are locked in on one name, a dynamic offensive playmaker who could reignite the Cowboys’ rushing attack. Others argue that defense should be the priority, given the unit’s inconsistency down the stretch last season. So come April 24, who would you select at 12th overall if you’re Jerry Jones because, if not Ashton Jeanty, then who?

First things first, with that theme in mind, earlier this week, Bleacher Report published a “Poor Landing Spots for Top 10 2025 NFL Draft Prospects.” Jones’ Cowboys were mentioned as the “worst fit” for one of the top 10 prospects. While many have linked Dallas to Boise State’s, Heisman finalist, Ashton Jeanty, the latest mock draft from DLLS Sports host Jeff Cavanaugh, just threw gasoline on the fire. Cavanaugh’s mock draft took a different route entirely. Instead of bolstering the run game with the electric running back, he opted for Michigan cornerback Will Johnson at No. 12 overall.

It’s a move that prioritizes shutting down opposing passing attacks over adding firepower to the Cowboys’ own offense. “I’m gonna throw out the name Will Johnson, cornerback, Michigan, because he’s interesting to me,” Cavanaugh explained. The comparison he drew? LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.—a corner who was so dominant as a true freshman that his draft stock was set in stone years before he actually entered the league. At 6’2″ and 200 pounds, Johnson fits the prototype of a shutdown corner. “He is a built-in-a-lab, walking-off-the-bus, perfect-looking corner.” That’s high praise for the Wolverines player who is flagged as a “biggest concern for him at this juncture is that he’ll take a tumble, thus going lower than expected”, per SB Nation.

Of course, every prospect has a few red flags, and Johnson is no exception. While his size and coverage skills are undeniable, there are whispers about his top-end speed and tackling technique. “There will be some questions about the top-end speed. I have some questions about the way that he tackles. He’s plenty physical, but most of his tackles look like he’s cut blocking.” He’s not afraid to mix it up, but there may be some concerns about his ability to wrap up ballcarriers at the next level.

That said, Cavanaugh didn’t ignore the Cowboys’ backfield woes. In the second round, he circled back to address the running back position with a prospect who’s turning heads—North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton. While Jeanty remains the consensus RB1 in the class, Hampton’s résumé is nothing to overlook. He racked up 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, proving himself as a workhorse back who can thrive in multiple offensive schemes. “For the second round, Omarion Hampton, running back, North Carolina. We don’t want to take a running back in the first round, but I’ll take one in the second.” It’s a strategy rooted in modern roster construction—invest premium picks in premium positions, then find value at running back later.

Hampton brings size (6’1″, 220 pounds), physicality, and versatility to the table. “As you can just hear with those numbers, this is a full-size dude that plays running back. And he has everything. He’s a good receiver, he’s a really good yards-after-contact guy, he sees it, he’s a workhorse. He’s done both zone blocking and gap—he can do them both.” In short, he’s the type of complete back that can thrive under Jerry Jones’ RB coach Derrick Foster’s system.

So, where does that leave Jerry Jones and his Cowboys? Do they roll the dice on an offensive spark plug like Jeanty in the first round, or do they shore up their secondary and bet on a Day 2 running back? The decision won’t be easy.

The insider won’t, but Ashton Jeanty wants a Dallas homecoming. Will Jerry Jones make it happen?

Jeff may not be ready to connect the dots, but Ashton Jeanty is making his intentions clear—he’d love nothing more than to suit up for Dallas. The Boise State running back, who played his high school football at Frisco Lone Star, just about eight miles from The Star (the Cowboys’ team facility) — would love nothing more than a homecoming.

“It would be special,” Jeanty told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Growing up in Frisco and spending a lot of time out there… I think it’d be cool having a star on my helmet again. Playing for Lone Star [High School], I had a star on my helmet as well. It would be a dope moment to have that happen.”

The Cowboys haven’t drafted a running back in the first round since Ezekiel Elliott in 2016. Jeanty might be an intriguing option. He also had good things to say about Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas’ new HC, believing he’d fit well in the system.

So, who will it be at backfield Hampton or a Heisman finalist?