The overwhelming consensus is that the Dallas Cowboys 1st round pick needs to be a wide receiver. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan and Texas’s Matthew Golden are easily the most discussed options for Dallas, but two Georgia Bulldogs may be the real decision.
It’s not at all a knock against either wide receiver option; fans are simply underrating the possibility that the Cowboys target defense at the start of the draft.
This class has some absolute stars at defensive end, linebacker, and cornerback. It also has tremendous depth at receiver and running back, which could allow Dallas the ability to go defense early and still find weapons later.
That is where these two Georgia stars come into play.
Here, I’ll discuss them, their draft stock, and why the Cowboys may be choosing between them when Roger Goodell puts America’s Team on the clock.
The Top Dog: Georgia LB/EDGE, Jalon Walker
Jalon Walker is a 21-year-old from Salisbury, North Carolina, and he may be the best defensive player in this draft class.
The defensive hype in this draft has belonged to Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, and rightfully so, but Walker has just as clear a shot as anybody to immediately become an All-Pro-level player in the NFL.
At 6’1″, 243 lbs, this kid will likely become a part-time pass rusher and part-time linebacker at the next level. He did this pretty well at Georgia, by the way.
In 2024, Walker recorded both 60 tackles and 6.5 sacks, and had 11 tackles for loss to boot. That kind of production, on such a stacked defense, is more impressive than fans may initially realize.
Walker’s explosive playing style, athleticism, and versatility have led to some Micah Parsons comparisons, and, as a result, his draft stock is through the roof.
If the Cowboys 1st round pick rolls around, and Walker is still on the board, they’ll have no choice but to consider him. He is currently projected to be a top-ten selection, with the Carolina Panthers being viewed as the favorites.
They have been watching Walker closely, and if a slide to 12 happens, don’t be surprised if they want to have two Parsons-like on defense.
The Realistic Choice: Georgia EDGE, Mykel Williams
More realistically speaking, the 12th pick could very well belong to Walker’s counterpart, EDGE Rusher Mykel Williams.
If Dallas looks away from a wide receiver or running back, the favorite for the pick would likely be either Walker or Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron.
Williams, a 20-year-old Georgia native, is a more traditional pass-rusher in comparison to Walker. At 6’5″, 260 lbs, we’re talking about a guy that has both the frame and the stockpile of traits the Cowboys may be looking for.
He totaled 14 sacks in his collegiate career and started as a true freshman in 2022, which led to immediate draft hype.
The statistics never boomed for Williams necessarily, but that’s hard to do on such a loaded defense, and he stayed incredibly consistent throughout his three years. To some, that may matter more than if he randomly had one huge season.
It’s Williams’ potential that has driven his stock into a consensus top-15 prospect, as his sheer athleticism pops off the screen when you turn on his tape. He is a top-tier athlete, and the hope is that some development can turn that into an All-Pro asset.
In short, Williams’ stock puts him right in the Cowboys 1st round pick territory.
All it would take for him to be the pick is a strong push from incoming Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus, and Dallas’ top wide receiver option being taken before them. If those two things happen, watch out for Williams as the 12th pick in the draft.
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