{"id":192393,"date":"2025-09-01T21:01:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T21:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/192393\/"},"modified":"2025-09-01T21:01:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T21:01:16","slug":"dallas-cowboys-vs-philadelphia-eagles-breakdown-of-draft-pick-rookies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/192393\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Breakdown of draft pick rookies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rookie battleground: Cowboys vs. Eagles breakdown for draft picks\/UDFAs<\/strong><\/p>\n

The NFL is a young man\u2019s game, so each week we dive into each team\u2019s rookie class and how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com<\/strong><\/a>)<\/p>\n

First Round
Last year\u2019s rookie series started with a Tyler and this season that trend continues with Tyler Booker. The Alabama man-mover has been getting on with business and his on-field flashes in preseason games were good. It\u2019s clear he\u2019s much more effective at run blocking over pass blocking, but that\u2019s not to say he\u2019s bad in pass protection. On his limited snap count in preseason game for Dallas, Booker played 15 passing sets and allowed no pressures or sacks. It\u2019s not a huge sample size to judge anything but it does add some confidence.<\/p>\n

In college he played 1,035 passing plays and allowed only two sacks during his collegiate career. In the SEC, that\u2019s impressive. But now he has to face this Eagles impressive inside pass rush which will put him to the test. Keeping Dak Prescott clean is key here and you can be sure the Eagles coaching staff will crash hard toward Booker and really put the rookie guard under stress for his debut regular season appearance.
Grade: N\/A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Second Round
In landing the extremely athletic and talented Boston College Eagles\u2019 pass rusher, the Cowboys are hoping that landing the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Ted Hendricks award winner will develop into the team\u2019s next Micah Parsons. \u201cE-Z\u201d is a dominant defender, not only did he lead Boston College and the ACC in sacks (16.5), he also led in tackles for loss (21) and was second on the team in total tackles (80). He\u2019s basically combining elite defensive end stats with linebacker stats. It will take time to adjust but there should be little doubt that Ezeiruaku will develop very nicely into an effective edge defender for Dallas.
Grade: N\/A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Third Round
Currently on Non-Football injury list (NFI)<\/p>\n

Fifth Round
Panic set in at Oxnard when Blue went down with an ankle injury and then looked like he reaggravated something in the final preseason game. The good news is this isn\u2019t something long term and his skills will most certainly be needed this season. Brian Schottenheimer came out after the Atlanta Falcons game and said that Blue\u2019s injury wasn\u2019t anything to be concerned about and he\u2019s been seen on the practice field ahead of the season opener. His speed has the chance to be a game-changer against the Eagles who are susceptible to giving up yards to running backs flying out on the flat as an extra receiver, so Blue would be crucial here. This all depends on his health which needs to be observed this week for any further updates.
Grade: N\/A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fifth Round
James really started to flash in Dallas\u2019 preseason games and looks like he could fill in as a \u201cMoneybacker\u201d on the Cowboys linebacker corps. In a game that prioritizes coverage over everything else, James really proved he could fill that role. His interception of Easton Sticks\u2019 throw against the Falcons had James perfectly positioned to make the snag and highlights he knew exactly where to be. Has he done enough to steal a starting spot? Not for the season opener but expect to see him in rotation and doing plenty of work on special teams.
Grade: N\/A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seventh Round
The recent trade where the Cowboys sent Micah Parsons packing and acquired Kenny Clark pushes Jay Toia down the pecking order. His snap forecast for the foreseeable future looks uncertain. Toia was totally fine during preseason and in most cases he outshone Mazi Smith. Slowing down Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts on scrambles or RPO\u2019s is absolute key here, so Schottenheimer may hold the rookie defensive tackle back while more established defenders try hold back the tide.
Grade: N\/A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seventh Round – IR
Grade: N\/A<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"GREEN<\/a><\/p>\n

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – APRIL 24: Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker poses after being selected 12th overall by the Dallas Cowboys during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

First Round
The Alabama tackling machine (183 total tackles since 2023) fell to the Eagles in the first round and was considered the best off-ball linebacker in this year\u2019s draft class. Some scouts even had him touted as a top-ten pick. At 6\u20193\u201d and 235 lbs, he boasts sideline-to-sideline range, exceptional burst and acceleration, and the ability to play multiple positions\u2014as a MIKE, SAM, or even off the edge in creative schemes. His fluid coverage skills, disruptive blitzing, and length make him a formidable presence in zone defense and pass rush situations.<\/p>\n

His pre-snap recognition and instincts can be tentative\u2014he can be slow to diagnose plays, especially when dealing with play-action or misdirection, and he sometimes hesitates before committing downhill. He\u2019s also shown room for improvement in block engagement and physicality, particularly shedding blocks against bigger linemen or tight ends, and can be overaggressive, occasionally overrunning plays or getting caught out of position.<\/p>\n

Campbell\u2019s blazing speed and range should be invaluable in chasing down Dallas\u2019 dynamic playmakers, whether in the run game or on quick passing options. His versatility allows the Eagles to disguise looks, blitzing from different spots or dropping into unexpected coverage, and disguise gaps to disrupt the Cowboys\u2019 timing. That said, Dallas may test him with play-action, tight-end motions, or runs that stress gap discipline and block resistance.<\/p>\n

Second Round
Andrew Mukuba is an athletic, instinctive safety whose elite range, ball-hawking ability, and coverage versatility make him an immediate asset for the Eagles, especially in pass-heavy games. His quick processing, anticipation, and versatility across deep safety, slot, and box roles grant defensive coordinators valuable schematic flexibility. That said, his relatively small frame and sometimes erratic tackling technique make him vulnerable against physical matchups, bigger blockers and shifty tight ends, and he must guard against over-aggression that could leave him exposed to double moves. Against the Cowboys, expect Mukuba to excel in deep coverage and turnover opportunities, if he can maintain discipline and stay on his feet, he could emerge as a game-changer in the secondary on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Fourth Round
Ty Robinson is a physically imposing, high-motor interior lineman whose rare combination of explosiveness, length, and versatility makes him a dynamic rotational asset for the Eagles. His ability to penetrate gaps and disrupt both run and pass plays is enhanced by his experience and athletic testing, and his adaptability across defensive fronts adds scheming versatility. That said, maintaining pad discipline and expanding his pass-rush toolkit will be critical, offensive lines will look to capitalize on his height and technical gaps. Against the Cowboys, Robinson has the potential to stir up chaos in the middle, depending how much they look to rotate him for the first game of the season.<\/p>\n

Fifth Round
Mac McWilliams is very feisty and an instinctive slot corner whose exceptional short-area quickness and aggressive tackling make him an enticing depth piece for the Eagles. While his compact frame and arm reach introduce limitations, especially against bigger receivers and press coverage, his nickel back ability and special teams acumen position him as a high-upside \u201cnext man up\u201d defender. As of now, he\u2019s the backup slot corner but could earn increased playing time as the season progresses. Against the Cowboys, McWilliams offers disruption in space and stout run support, so long as he maintains technique and leverages his anticipation rather than relying on physical parity.<\/p>\n

Fifth Round
Smael Mondon Jr. is an explosive, coverage-capable linebacker with safety-level instincts, sideline-to-sideline speed, and sturdy fundamental tackling, traits heightened by his special teams upside. Though currently fourth on the depth chart behind Campbell, Zack Baun and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., he\u2019s carving a role as a rotational asset. His coverage range brings strategic flexibility, but his lean frame and read-and-react consistency remain areas for serious refinement. Against the Cowboys, Mondon can offer rotational snaps in obvious passing plays and space-oriented packages, but he will look play the majority of snaps on special teams this week.<\/p>\n

\"GREEN<\/a><\/p>\n

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – APRIL 24: Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell is introduced on stage during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

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