The Dallas Cowboys have seen a handful of quality prospects that would have been perfect stylistic fits in the 2025 NFL Draft get snatched right out from under them, former OC Kellen Moore managed to pull off this devilish little trick once more with the New Orleans Saints.
The Cowboys waited all the way until the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select a running back, going with a local product in Texas' Jaydon Blue. However, there was one running back available in the middle of the sixth round with such immense potential that he could have been the perfect complement.
Kansas running back Devin Neal, who was regarded as a player who could sneak into the late stages of Day 2, managed to still be available at pick No. 184 in the Draft. Dallas' dream of picking him was ruined by Moore's Saints.
New Orleans selected Neal with the No. 184 overall pick, leaving Dallas in a position to fight over some fairly meager scraps of skill position players still left on the board. After picking Kelvin Banks Jr. and Danny Stutsman earlier, New Orleans is rolling through players who would have been ideal Cowboys picks.
Cowboys RB target Devin Neal drafted by Kellen Moore's Saints in 2025 NFL Draft
New Orleans selected Neal with the No. 184 overall pick, leaving Dallas in a position to fight over some fairly meager scraps of skill position players still left on the board. After picking Kelvin Banks Jr. and Danny Stutsman earlier, New Orleans is rolling through players who would have been ideal Cowboys picks.
Blue was the only pick out of their first five that was an offensive skill position player, leaving a Cowboys team in line to make Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin two of Dak Prescott's top three targets at wide receiver. The top back or wideout left on the board was Neal, who could have pushed Blue for snaps immediately.
Instead, Neal will go to New Orleans, where he can provide Alvin Kamara with a solid backup plan if he is able to beat out Kendre Miller. Moore's offense, which helped get 2,000 yards out of Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia last year, could be all that Neal needs to get off to a hot start in the pros.
Dallas has pulled off some solid picks this year, especially on Day 2, but Day 3 has featured some questionable selections. Neal could have been one way to rectify all of that, but Moore appears to have stuck it to his old team.