This upcoming Cowboys draft is important for the offense as Dak Prescott ages, and wide receiver must be addressed. Gone are the days of CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup; Dallas is in a new era, and it needs improvement at wide receiver.
Everybody knows that running back is a need, and while Boise State star Ashton Jeanty would excite the fanbase, this class is stacked with later talent at the position.
The Cowboys may not have the same luxury at receiver.
This season, eight out of the top ten wide receiver leaders in yards were first-round picks. The only exceptions were Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ladd McConkey, who was the 34th pick in the 2024 draft.
The point is, it’s much harder to find a late gem at receiver than it is at running back, so who could Dallas end up targeting?
That’s what we’re here to discuss. Here are three wide receivers to watch for the upcoming Cowboys draft.
Luther Burden III: The Top Option
If you want the Cowboys to draft the highest-rated wide receiver they can, you’re going to want to learn about Missouri’s Luther Burden III.
Burden, 21, had a special collegiate career, despite some poor quarterback play and an overall lack of talent around him. In both of his final two years, he was named first-team All-SEC, reeling in 15 touchdowns over that span.
He could be a perfect complement to Lamb, as some see him fitting best as a dynamic WR2 rather than a true standalone WR1.
He can play on the outside or in the slot, and he is as fun to watch after the catch as anybody in this draft class. Burden led all of college football this past season with 30 missed tackles forced.
If Dallas wants him, they’d likely have to draft him at 12 or move back a few picks and hope for the best.
He won’t be around very long, and it’s for good reason. Luther Burden III should be a significant name on the Cowboys draft board, and if they get a chance, they should bring in this potential Pro Bowler.
Matthew Golden: The Draft Board Riser
If there is one guy in this draft who could shoot up draft boards right before our eyes, it is Texas Longhorns star, and Houston native, Matthew Golden.
After transferring from his hometown Houston Cougars to play in Austin, Golden quickly became Quinn Ewers’ top target. He led the team in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and yards per reception with 17.0.
The only thing more impressive than his numbers is his film. When you turn it on, he jumps off the screen.
His speed and explosiveness make his routes very difficult to defend, and he may be scratching the surface of his overall potential.
Golden has played in just 36 collegiate games, and 2024 was his first playing over 11 in a year. For a guy with such little experience, and negatives that should be fixed over time, teams may fall in love with what he could become.
The Cowboys could be ahead of the curve for once, and bet on that potential. Don’t sleep on Golden as an option for Dallas, especially if they trade back in the first round.
Tre Harris: The Second-Round Steal
Premier prospects don’t always mean first-round picks. Especially when it comes to wide receivers, sometimes great prospects can be pushed down the board because of an overabundance at the position. Ole Miss star Tre Harris is a great example of this.
It would surprise me if this Rebel, and former Ragin’ Cajun, weren’t a second-round pick this year.
At the same time, it would surprise me even more if he didn’t become a productive wide receiver in the NFL.
Harris is big, fast, slippery, and productive. He absolutely dominated man coverage during his time in college. We’re talking about a guy who had 1,030 receiving yards in just eight games played this year.
That is unheard of, and the yards themselves surpass what both Burden and Golden had.
He has been banged up in his early career, which contributes to his second-round projection, and he does have some concerns about his route running, but the pros outweigh the cons here.
If the Cowboys draft him and develop him right, they could have a potential star on their hands.