Cowboys Insider Reviews Kiper’s Latest 3-Round Draft Predictions
The Dallas Cowboys’ early draft picks are pretty much set, with most people predicting they’ll target a running back, wide receiver, and cornerback. The real question is what order they’ll pick in. The Cowboys have picks at 12, 44, and 76, and they’ll need to hit on all three. While the focus is mostly on the first two picks (receiver and running back), let’s take a look at what’s being said about the third round.
In Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft with Field Yates for ESPN, he predicts the Cowboys will grab Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson with their third-round pick after taking wide receiver Matthew Golden and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. in the first two rounds. Kiper sees Sampson as a solid choice: “The Cowboys focused on other needs early, but they finally get their running back—and Sampson has good upside,” Kiper says. “He ran for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.”
In his only season as the full-time starter for Tennessee in 2024, Sampson had a monster year. He’s quick and patient, with a knack for reading blockers, and when he sees a gap, he hits it hard. He might need some work on pass protection, but his ability to break away as a runner is undeniable. Cowboys beat writer Mike Fisher thinks this fits perfectly for Dallas: “Now that Kiper has gotten off the idea of picking a running back at No. 12, this all makes sense.”
Sampson is a bit like Le’Veon Bell in his prime with the way he can slow things down behind his line before exploding into action. With his 4.43-second 40-yard dash and solid build (5’9”, 209 pounds), he brings the kind of playmaking potential the Cowboys need. If they draft him, running backs coaches Conor Riley and Klayton Adams will likely focus on his ball security and pass-blocking, but as a pure runner, Sampson could be a great find in round three.
Dallas definitely needs help at running back, and if Sampson ends up in a Cowboys uniform, he could become a game-changer. As Fisher says, “This all fits.”
Is Kiper’s 3-Round Draft Plan the Perfect Fit for Cowboys? Insider Reviews”
