The Dallas Cowboys own the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and need to add an offensive spark. Dallas went 7-10 after losing Dak Prescott to a season-ending Week 9 hamstring injury.
The Cowboys named Brian Schottenheimer head coach early this offseason, and PFSN’s latest mock draft predicts the team will select a highly productive running back in the first round, but it’s not the one from Boise State.
Dallas Expected To Add Productive, Bruising RB at No. 12
Dallas’ offense was a mess, with Cooper Rush filling in once Prescott went down. Rush went 4-4 in his first extended action as a starter, however, the offense lost much of its potency without Prescott.
The unit finished No. 23 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last season with a nonexistent run game paced by the recently departed Rico Dowdle. He led the team with 1,079 rushing yards and just two touchdowns. Ezekiel Elliott led the team with three touchdowns but chipped in just 226 yards.
It won’t be shocking if the Cowboys address the offense with the 12th pick, and the team has been linked to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. However, the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6 have been a popular landing spot in many mocks, including Mel Kiper’s latest.
RB2 in this year’s class is North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton. He’s a violent downhill runner, offering outstanding size, strength, and power. He is a power back first and foremost, but offers excellent short area quickness and explosiveness. Hampton has a massive frame and dense build to withstand contact and deliver punishment as a tempo-setting ball carrier.
In his latest mock draft, PFSN’s Jacob Infante predicts the Cowboys will take Hampton at No. 12 and will still get a top-end runner even though it’s not Jeanty.
Infante wrote, “With Jeanty off the board, the Dallas Cowboys lose out on their home-run pick at No. 12. That said, they won’t have to totally miss out on high-end running back talent in Round 1.
“Omarion Hampton is a speedy, physical back who excels at finding open lanes between the tackles. He has bell-cow potential and could prove to be a consistent 1,000-yard runner at the next level, which would be a welcomed addition to the Cowboys’ offense.”
Hampton spent all three years of his college career at North Carolina, leading the ACC in carries and yards the last two seasons. As a true sophomore in 2023, he totaled 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns on 253 carries. He followed that up with 281 carries, 1,660 yards, and 15 more scores last season. Hampton finished his career with 40 total touchdowns (36 rushing, four receiving).
This is a workhorse running back who likes to dish out punishment. Hampton won’t be the most elusive ball carrier in space, but he will be productive going forward on a designed track. If Dallas wants to inject some juice into its lackluster offense, Hampton would be a great selection at No. 12.