Comparing NFL Draft prospects to current Cowboys stars

The 2025 NFL Draft prospects list is star-studded to say the least; from Heisman winners to the sons of football legends, this class has it all. For the Dallas Cowboys, this draft is bigger than names, as the team is desperately trying to find new stars to team up with their current ones.

Here’s the thing: some of those top options are eerily similar to current Cowboys players, and that could be beneficial for Dallas.

When it comes to draft prospect comparisons, occasionally, insiders are just grasping at straws to make a player profile easy to understand. Other times, like in this draft class, there is substance to comparisons.

Specifically, this draft has three guys that match up perfectly with three of the Cowboys’ biggest stars.

So, let’s discuss these prospects, how they compare, and what their odds are of joining their Dallas doppelgängers in this year’s NFL Draft.

Abdul Carter: Penn State’s Micah Parsons Clone

You don’t need to squint your eyes or think hard about Cowboys star Micah Parsons to see him when you watch Penn State’s Abdul Carter. The similarities can be seen from a mile away, and there are many.

Both are collegiate All-Americans and Pennsylvania natives who terrorized offensive tackles for the Nittany Lions while wearing No. 11 on their chests. I mean, seriously, the two even look alike.

They are separated by 5 lbs of weight, and come in at identical heights.

What is most impressive, however, is not the physical or jersey similarities: it’s their on-field parallels.

Abdul Carter and Micah Parsons share more than an alma mater pic.twitter.com/aoaWbBx2VZ
— PFF (@PFF) February 26, 2025

Carter’s motor, bend, and explosion are nothing short of elite. He is a generational pass-rushing prospect in the same way Parsons was, except he is going to go significantly higher in the draft.

Fans who dream of pairing both Carter and Parsons together have to understand that this Penn State alum isn’t escaping the first five picks; in fact, he may be headed to an NFC East rival.

He is now the favorite to be selected by the New York Giants, which means the Commanders and Eagles may have to see an All-Pro EDGE rusher wearing 11 four times a year.

Emeka Egbuka: CeeDee Lamb-Like Skill Set

On a more realistic note, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka is not only similar to Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb, but he could soon be his running mate.

This year’s NFL Draft prospects at wide receiver have all been mocked to Dallas at one point or another. Everybody knows the team needs a new WR2 to pair with Lamb, but none are closer to him in skill set than Egbuka.

From a size standpoint, Egbuka measures in at 6’1″, 202 pounds, while Lamb checks in at 6’2″, 200 pounds. There’s only a 0.2-second difference between their projected 40-yard dash times.

On the field, it’s hard not to see shades of Lamb in his game, as Egbuka owns the slot despite his size, and can play on the outside with the best of them.

The recent success of players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ladd McConkey, and CeeDee Lamb in the slot bodes well for Emeka Egbuka.

- YAC skills
- Lineup versatility
- Ball tracking skills
- Smooth route running
- Toughness through trafficpic.twitter.com/BhYsQ3hnPN
— Snoog's Fantasy HQ (@FFSnoog) January 20, 2025

The Cowboys coaching staff could see the two as a perfect pairing, as their similar skills can complement and play off of one another. It would also be one heck of an opportunity to learn for Egbuka, as he’d be matched up with one of the league’s best day in and day out.

He has the tools, now he just needs to refine them under someone who’s already mastered the art.

Riley Leonard: Dak Prescott-esque Scouting Report

Big, mobile, experienced, great leader, questionable accuracy. Those five traits could appear in either Riley Leonard or Dak Prescott’s collegiate scouting report, and they’d fit perfectly both times.

The Duke Blue Devil-turned-Notre Dame front man shares a lot with the Cowboys franchise quarterback, and it could lead to a pairing of the two in 2025.

Riley Leonard left it all on the field in the National Championship👏

☘️ 22/31
☘️ 295 Total YDS
☘️ 3 TDS
☘️ 0 INTS pic.twitter.com/lcXvEYwk83
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 21, 2025

Leonard, 22, is far from a top prospect in this year’s draft, largely due to concerns about his arm.

He isn’t all that accurate right now, and he won’t blow you away with arm strength. When you combine that with average quarterbacking skills, like coverage-reading and anticipation, you’ve got a late-round guy on your hands.

That said, the problems I see in Leonard are similar to those of Prescott in his Mississippi State days, and the Cowboys worked around them until he developed out of them.

In Leonard’s case, he’d have time to refine his game under a quarterback who once battled similar weaknesses, and strengthen the very traits he and Prescott already have in common.

The numbers don't look good for Riley Leonard. Regardless of the result, there's much — timing, accuracy, etc. — to improve.

But like last week, he has the ball with a chance to ice the game.
— Jack Soble (@jacksoble56) September 7, 2024

Yes, Dallas traded for former Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III, but that wouldn’t stop me from adding another development guy late in the draft, and Leonard is the best option there.