We are just about midway through the entire NFL regular season, so it’s time for a Week 8 Cowboys rookie report. The weeks always fly by for the fans, and it must feel that way for the young players grinding through their first year.
Especially in the case of Dallas’s draftees, nearly all have had a whirlwind of a rookie campaign, as injuries and performances have varied.
It has been hard to judge them as a group at this point because of that, but we are starting to see the tide turn with both their health and on-field play. With the Cowboys lingering around record-wise, these young bucks will get their shot to contribute to meaningful football.
Here, we’ll look at the first five Dallas draft picks to see how their rookie seasons have gone to this point in 2025.
1. Tyler Booker: First-Rounder Solid Start Despite Injuries
The Cowboys rookie with the most pressure is clearly first-round pick Tyler Booker.
An Alabama star and the highest-drafted guard in quite some time was selected to fill the shoes of future Hall of Famer, Zack Martin. When he’s played, he has not done half bad at doing so.
Of course, Booker hasn’t been an All-Pro like Martin consistently was, but he’s proven to be reliable in his rookie campaign, despite being banged up at times.
Booker is showing what you want to see for a first-round guard; the hope is that he continues to build on that and becomes a dynamic duo with Tyler Smith.
2. Donovan Ezeiruaku: Second-Rounder Showing Improvement Each Week
I’m not afraid to admit it: Donovan Ezeiruaku was scaring me for a little while this year.
The second-rounder and former Boston College Golden Eagle got off to a slow start, both in the preseason and in the early weeks of the real deal. He wasn’t generating pressure, and he looked overmatched at times.
The sample size is small, but Donovan Ezeiruaku has played like a top-20 EDGE rusher in the NFL since Week 4 via @PFF: pic.twitter.com/7DRegfi4t3
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) October 20, 2025
Now, he seems to be improving every week and has started performing at the top of all rookie pass rushers in the NFL.
Of course, it is still early, but Ezeiruaku is showing the kind of improvement that good young players show. This could be the start of a great career for this kid.
3. Shavon Revel Jr: Health Turning Around For Exciting Young Cornerback
Bar none, my favorite draft pick of the Cowboys’ 2025 draft class was East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. Now, we’re inching toward seeing him for the very first time.
Revel, formerly expected to be a first-round pick, fell to Dallas at pick 76 after suffering a torn ACL during ECU’s 2024 season.
The injury has kept him sidelined this entire year, but the tide is finally turning. Revel seems to be getting close to a return, and we’re seeing him practice, even if it’s with a fairly large knee brace.
Cowboys fans should be ecstatic if they can get a healthy Revel on the field before this season comes to a close.
4. Jaydon Blue: Increasing Snaps For Dallas’s Rookie Running Back
It hasn’t been an easy rookie season by any means for Jaydon Blue.
The former Texas Longhorn dealt with a nagging injury that kept him sidelined for two separate stints since being drafted.
Dallas strategically kept him off the field longer than he likely needed to be, but they could afford to let him rest with Javonte Williams’ emergence. Blue has started to see this shift, however, as his snaps have gradually increased since his Week 5 debut.
He hasn’t popped yet, and it seems he’s still trying to find his role and confidence in the NFL, but Blue’s potential has to excite you regardless.
5. Shemar James: Surprise Contributor Has Become Starting Linebacker
The Cowboys’ second fifth-round pick, Shemar James, was overshadowed by Blue for months. Many expected his draft class round-mate to be a contributor right away, but James has been the one to fill that role.
He has increased his snap percentage every week since he made his debut against the Packers in Week 4. This past game, he played 98.5% of the defensive snaps.
Cowboys LB Shemar James is beginning to pick up a ton of trust with the coaching staff. After starting the season on the inactive list, he has made his way onto the starting lineup in seven weeks.
DC Matt Eberflus: "The last few games, he's done a really nice job. I'm excited… pic.twitter.com/rQ2AsoCARr
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) October 23, 2025
James has fully inserted himself into the starting lineup for Dallas, and you could argue he’s been their best linebacker.
That may not be saying too much, as the Cowboys’ linebacking corps has been one of the worst in the NFL, but it has been an impressive start to James’s career, no matter how you frame it.
Seems like a solid 2025 draft for the Cowboys. Only time will tell.
Just read that Jalen Brooks was released by the Cowboys. It was an injury settlement issue. Did not know he had a knee problem. With or without the knee problem he was far better than Jalen Tolbert. Tolbert seems to be a Jerry Jones favorite son situation.