Cowboys predicted to select 6'3", 290-lbs star DT in 2025 NFL draft

Dane Brugler, an NFL analyst for The Athletic, believes the Dallas Cowboys will improve the defensive side of the ball in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Brugler projected in his 2025 NFL mock draft that with the No. 76 pick, the Cowboys would select Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner.

Although the Cowboys have needs on both offense and defense — including at running back, wide receiver, offensive line and in the secondary — defensive tackle is unquestionably a position where the franchise will look to improve this offseason through the draft.

At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Turner is a powerful rusher who can succeed in both pass and run situations. At Texas A&M in 2024, he recorded 36 total tackles, 20 solo tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. In 2023, he was named to the All-SEC second team.

Selecting Turner would be a smart move for the Cowboys, as their defense struggled mightily against both the pass and the run in 2024. The unit allowed 27.5 points per game, which ranked No. 31 in the NFL last season. Meanwhile, the defense gave up 137.1 rushing yards per contest, ranking No. 29 in the league.

The addition of Turner would help in those categories, as he proved he is ready for the NFL during his time at Texas A&M.

Shemar Turner 2025 NFL draft projection

Shemar Turner is expected to be a mid-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he ranks No. 12 among defensive tackles in production score, No. 8 in athleticism score and No. 10 in total score.

Bleacher Report gave Turner a prospect grade of 6.6, which, in their evaluation, projects him as a sixth-round pick and a potential role player in the future. His NFL player comparison was Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day.