Could the Cowboys draft a star tight end in the 1st round?

The 1997 Cowboys draft saw a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to select LSU tight end David LaFleur in the first round. That remains the last time Dallas drafted a player at that position on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.

LaFleur played just four seasons in the league, and the 2003 selection of Jason Witten in the third round ensured the Cowboys wouldn’t need to target a tight end that early again for nearly two decades.

Fans may not expect it, but the 2025 NFL Draft could break that 28-year drought.

The Cowboys’ offense took a turn for the worse in 2024, specifically at tight end, as Jake Ferguson failed to continue his upward trajectory.

With Brian Schottenheimer at the helm, Dak Prescott aging, and Tight Ends coach Lunda Wells returning, nothing should be off the table offensively with the 12th pick. That includes considering the top tight ends in the draft class.

Tyler Warren: Top Of The Tight End Class

For the Cowboys to consider a tight end this high in a draft, the prospect has to transcend the position. Penn State’s Tyler Warren does that.

An All-American and Mackey Award winner in 2024, this Nittany Lion lit college football on fire with his versatility, energy, and outright play-making. We’re talking about a guy who went from 34 catches in 2023 to 104 this past season.

Warren parlayed that catch increase to a staggering 1,233 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Oh, and did I mention this 6’6″, 256-lb star rushed for over 200 yards?

His size, personality, and statistics (8.4 yards per carry and 77.1 receiving yards per game) make this kid one of the most fascinating draft prospects I have ever encountered. He is far from the traditional tight end.

Tyler Warren: TE1 in the 2025 Rookie Class

➖104 Receptions
➖1,233 Yards
➖8 TD’s

Notable Information:

➖2.8% Drop Rate (135 Targets)
➖61.9% Contested Catch Rate (21 Targets)

Dude has absurd hands, excels as a blocker, dominates in contested catches, and he’s 6’6, 257 lbs.. pic.twitter.com/NOFjQbAuIB
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) January 15, 2025

This is an elite draft prospect with sky-high potential, and his draft stock reflects that.

He is currently expected to be drafted inside the top-10, with the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears coming in as the favorites.

That said, all three of those teams could pass on him. The Jets could lock in on the offensive line, the Saints have strong interest in Shedeur Sanders, and the Bears love Ashton Jeanty. If all of that happens, this Cowboys draft class may start with Warren.

It could upset the fanbase, and potentially rattle Ferguson’s feathers, but the best-player-available strategy only works if you actually stick to it.

Colston Loveland: Elite Trade Back Option

Speaking of moves the Dallas faithful might hate, let’s talk about trading down.

The Cowboys are in a bind: they don’t have nearly as much roster talent as they used to, they don’t spend that much money, and they don’t have significant draft capital.

Trading down would, in a way, address all three of those concerns. If that line of thinking grabs the attention of the Jerry Jones-led draft room, a move down the board could be in play, and Michigan’s Colston Loveland might emerge as their next top target.

Loveland, 21, finished his collegiate career as an All-American, multi-time All-Big Ten selection, and 2023 National Champion.

Colston Loveland. https://t.co/tEy2yGG4C6
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 11, 2025

His stats won’t jump off the page like Warren’s, but his consistency and impact in a run-heavy offense are worth noting. His 582 receiving yards in 2024 led the Wolverines by nearly double the next closest player.

While he does weigh in at nearly 250 lbs, Loveland operates as a larger extension of the wide receiver room. You simply cannot find his combination of size, athleticism, and receiving skills anywhere.

In short, Loveland is a true receiving threat at the position, and he could make a huge impact on the Cowboys’ offense if paired up with Ferguson.

It’s hard to believe the team would consider the TE2 of the class at 12, especially if Warren is on the board, but fans should consider both of them as potential future Cowboys draft picks at this point.