Barring this suggested trade, and based on the earlier mocks of the first and second rounds, the Dallas Cowboys will likely pull the trigger on a running back on Friday night.
By then, however, the top players will likely be gone. There is one running back who made a name for himself in his senior season who might be there.
Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo is a versatile power back with a lot of upside.
When the Cowboys go on the clock with the 76th pick overall, assuming they haven’t made a trade to land Ashton Jeanty on Thursday night, Skattebo should be the pick here.
Here’s how the entire third round should play out in a couple of weeks:
Closing Out Friday’s Action
- New York Giants
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss (6-2, 205 pounds)
Harris will give the Giants’ quarterback, whoever it turns out to be, a nice target to throw to along with Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton.
- Kansas City Chiefs
Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State (6-3, 195 pounds)
The Chiefs had trouble against larger receivers. Adding Porter will help shore up that weakness.
- Cleveland Browns
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State (5-10, 202 pounds)
The Cowboys probably would take Henderson at 76 but the Browns will beat them to the punch and keep the former Buckeye in his home state.
- Las Vegas Raiders
Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas (6-5, 311 pounds)
The Raiders addressed this position in free agency but still need help there. Broughton will help anchor that line.
- New England Patriots
Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College (6-8, 316 pounds)
They grow them big up there in New England, don’t they? Trapilo is going to be a monster run blocker and will help keep Drake Maye’s jersey clean.
- Jacksonville Jaguars
Nohl Williams, CB, California (6-1, 199 pounds)
After upgrading their offensive line to help their quarterback, the Jaguars attend to a big defensive need with this pick.
- New Orleans Saints
Mason Taylor, TE, LSU (6-5, 251 pounds)
Kellen Moore loves him some tight ends. We’ll soon see which is the true Moore, the Cowboys OC that struggled or the Eagles OC that jumped on Saquon Barkley’s back and rode him to a championship.
- Chicago Bears
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa (6-1, 224 pounds)
The Bears give their new head coach a 1-2 running back punch like he had in Detroit, pairing Johnson with D’Andre Swift.
- New York Jets
Cameron Williams, OT, Texas (6-6, 317 pounds)
The Jets are not in strong shape at right tackle. They will be after this pick.
- Carolina Panthers
C.J. West, DT, Indiana (6-1, 316 pounds)
The Panthers, as is the case with many other NFL teams, need help on the inside of the defensive line. West can jam up the running lanes and pressure the quarterback.
- San Francisco 49ers
Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss (6-1, 222 pounds)
The loss of Dre Greenlaw in free agency created a hole in the 49ers’ defense. Paul fills it and may even have San Francisco fans saying “Dre, who?” sooner rather than later.
The Cowboys Go On The Clock
- Dallas Cowboys
Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State (5-9, 219 pounds)
If Dallas does wait until the third round to address the running back position, this would be the best player available at the position. It will be interesting to see how the workload is shared in the backfield in 2025.
- New England Patriots
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (6-2, 214 pounds)
Yes, the Patriots have Drake Maye. Drafting Ewers would give them a solid backup in case of injury, or if Maye takes a backward step from his solid rookie year.
- Arizona Cardinals
Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State (6-3, 305 pounds)
Farmer will help address a big concern in the Cardinals defensive line.
- Houston Texans
Jonah Savaiinaea, G/OT, Arizona (6-4, 324 pounds)
Houston has a problem. They need to rebuild their entire offensive line.
Taking this Wildcats alum gives them a player they can plug in anywhere on that line.
- Indianapolis Colts
Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee (5-8, 200 pounds)
The Colts need a stronger backup plan for Jonathan Taylor. Sampson can get in and produce in limited snaps for the Colts.
- Cincinnati Bengals
Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia (6-6, 308 pounds)
Ratledge will help open up some running lanes while also keeping his quarterback upright in the passing game.
- Seattle Seahawks
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green (6-3, 241 pounds)
The Seahawks need more receiving impact from the position behind Noah Fant for Klint Kubiak’s offense to further help Sam Darnold.
- Pittsburgh Steelers
R.J. Harvey, RB, UCF (5-8, 205 pounds)
The Steelers need a little more help in replacing Najee Harris. Harvey will be a nice relief back.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Marcus Mbow, G/C, Purdue (6-4, 303 pounds)
The Buccaneers add inside depth to their line. Baker Mayfield approves.
- Denver Broncos
Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland (6-2, 312 pounds)
The Broncos add some much-needed depth top their defensive front.
- Los Angeles Chargers
Kyle Kennard, EDGE, South Carolina (6-4, 254 pounds)
The Chargers add a young and hungry lion to join with Khalil Mack in terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
- Green Bay Packers
Wyatt Mlium, G/OT, West Virginia (6-6, 313 pounds)
The Packers are somewhat light on their offensive line depth. Mlium shores up that deficiency nicely.
- Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State (5-10, 194 pounds)
The Jaguars recently traded Christian Kirk. Time to acquire his replacement.
- Houston Texans
Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State (6-1, 215 pounds)
The Texans continue to reinforce their defense for another playoff run.
- Los Angeles Rams
Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville (6-3, 264 pounds)
The Rams pass rush is anemic. Gillotte can be their Micah Parsons.
- Baltimore Ravens
Jalen Rivers, OT, Miami (6-6, 319 pounds)
Just want NFL defenses needed, a big body blowing open holes for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry to run through.
92. Seattle Seahawks
Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky (6-7, 331 pounds)
The Seahawks continue to build a brand-new Legion of Boom.
- New Orleans Saints
Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (5-10, 209 pounds)
Derek Carr continues to get new weapons to throw to in Moore’s new offense.
- Cleveland Browns
Devin Neal, RB, Kansas (5-11, 213 pounds)
Cleveland upgrades its offensive backfield with a grinder.
- Kansas City Chiefs
Anthony Belton, OT, NC State (6-6, 336 pounds)
The Chiefs need to keep adding depth to their offensive line and Belton could develop into a long-term starter.
- Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State (6-1, 205 pounds)
The Eagles need a speed demon who will ultimately replace A.J. Brown in the near future.
Third Round Compensatory Picks
- Minnesota Vikings
Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas (6-0, 180 pounds)
Bryant has the range and the size to give the Vikings a much-needed boost in their defensive backfield.
- Miami Dolphins
Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas (6-5, 241 pounds)
Helm is going to be a solid tight end, an area the Dolphins needed to shore up in the offensive side of the ball.
- New York Giants
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon (5-11, 205 pounds)
The Giants grab their quarterback of the future, allowing Gabriel time to develop and learn from Wilson.
- San Francisco 49ers
Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State (5-11, 186 pounds)
The 49ers lost Charvarius Ward in free agency. If Burke is still here they’ll grab him and feel like the Kings of the third round.
- Los Angeles Rams
Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson (6-1, 225 pounds)
Carter will immediately help the Rams’ defensive front seven.
- Detroit Lions
Sebastian Castro, CB/S. Iowa (5-11, 202 pounds)
Castro will likely be a nickel or dime back and gives the Lions depth they sorely lacked down the stretch in 2024.