After two drafts under Mike McCarthy that often felt like a game of Whac-A-Mole — fixing one leak just to spring another — Jerry Jones brought something radical to the table: adaptability. No flailing, no forced trades, no reaching on the clock. For once, the Cowboys let the board come to them to strengthen both the immediate and long-term roster. And when Alabama guard Tyler Booker fell into their laps at No. 12, Jerry just might’ve started moonwalking in the draft room.

Gone were the days of throwing darts and hoping for the best. Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams summed it up perfectly during the Cowboys’ draft show: “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of reaching in that draft room. There’s no panic.” The same sentiments were echoed by Jerry.

On Tuesday, during the team’s annual pre-draft presser, Jones too confirmed, “We’re in agreement so much, we’re one of the best drafting teams in the NFL. I’ll say that, we are. That’s because of the hard work that goes into getting there.”

Especially after the two dry McCarthy spells, where the Cowboys’ draft strategy often felt like a frantic game of musical chairs—only nobody was sure when the music would stop. In 2023 and 2024, Dallas made a habit of reaching for need over value, passing on higher-graded prospects to plug short-term holes. Picks like Mazi Smith, DeMarvion Overshown, and others showed flashes but struggled to carve out consistent roles, leading to a top-heavy roster with alarming depth issues.

Worse yet, the Cowboys sometimes looked caught off guard on draft night, with reports of indecision and internal debate leaking out. Instead of fortifying the trenches or stacking premium positions, they were patching leaks with duct tape—and it showed in a crumbling 7-10 season that spelled the end of McCarthy’s influence on roster-building. But it’s all different now.

Jerry, Stephen Jones, and new head coach Brian Schottenheimer couldn’t stop gushing. “We’re very aware of the challenges we have in our division… when you make somebody the highest-paid player in the NFL, you’d like to have something in front of you,” Jerry said, half-joking but deadly serious about Dak Prescott’s protection. Booker, with his grown-man strength and alpha mentality, wasn’t just a pick — he was a statement.

Schottenheimer took it further, calling Booker a guy who could “impose his will” and immediately fill the Zack Martin-sized hole in Dallas’ offensive line. “When you sit down and visit with this guy, he’s an alpha,” Schotty said, clearly already planning run-heavy Sundays. Stephen Jones made it even simpler: “He’s gonna walk in here day one a starter for us.” Translation? This wasn’t a hope pick. This was a sure thing.

And the Cowboys didn’t stop at Booker. East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. — once mocked in the first round — somehow slipped to them at No. 76. Boston College edge Donovan Ezeiruaku landed at 44. It’s like the football Gods finally clicked ‘shuffle’ on the Best Player Available playlist and Dallas actually listened. No more McCarthy-era mayhem as Dallas moves ahead with an aim.

Jerry Jones’ Cowboys want to make sure they improve

You saw it. We all saw it. The Cowboys’ rushing attack in 2024 was… fine. Just not scary. Rico Dowdle turned in a solid season with 1,079 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Respectable, right? Sure. But when your RB1 has fewer touchdowns than a kicker on a cold streak, you start asking some hard questions. Deuce Vaughn sprinkled in some sparks, and others chipped in, but let’s be real — nobody was losing sleep over Dallas’ ground game.

Team-wise, it wasn’t a disaster — 1,705 yards on 429 attempts, averaging 4.0 yards per carry. Sounds alright until you peek over at the defense. Dallas coughed up 2,331 rushing yards to opponents. That’s not just bad. That’s ‘can’t-get-off-the-field’ bad. A 4.8-yard average allowed? You could almost hear opposing O-lines laughing at the line of scrimmage.

It’s why new offensive line coach Klayton Adams didn’t sugarcoat it. “Creating explosives in the running game is a recipe for creating explosives in the passing game,” Adams said on the Cowboys Draft Show. Then he dropped the hammer: “When somebody can impose their will on you in the run game, it’s a disease for the entire [opposing] team.”

But the good thing is Jerry Jones is listening this time (maybe). That’s why even after three rounds of the 2025 Draft, Will McClay made it crystal clear: Day 3 is their playground. “We do our best work on Day 3,” McClay said. Cowboys are hunting value backs — Devin Neal, Jordan James, or Bhayshul Tuten — the type who might not have VIP buzz but could bulldoze a defense if given space.

Bottom line? Dallas isn’t just chasing yards, they’re chasing a new identity. One where opposing teams stop giggling when the Cowboys hand the ball off. A new set of legs is coming. Jerry’s rolling the dice — again. Only this time, it has to hit.