Why the Cowboys Took a Leap for Shemar James in the 2025 NFL Draft — Breaking Down the Bold Move 🔥
In the middle of a draft class that felt like it could swing either way, the Dallas Cowboys made a gutsy, calculated decision that got fans buzzing and insiders raising eyebrows—they traded up to snag Florida linebacker Shemar James in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Now let’s be real: the linebacker room in Dallas wasn’t necessarily on fire. They weren’t desperate. But what this move signaled? Something deeper—something cultural.
🧠 A New Era, A New Prototype
Let’s rewind a bit. The Cowboys’ coaching carousel had done a full spin heading into the offseason, with a new regime stepping in and installing their own philosophy, schemes, and—most importantly—their own prototype players. While past Cowboys staffs might’ve been content to patchwork their way through a position group, this new leadership wasn’t playing checkers. They were playing 4D chess.
So when pick No. 152 was still on the board, and Shemar James was somehow still available, Dallas pulled the trigger. How? By packaging pick No. 174 and No. 211 and flipping them to Arizona to move up. And the move wasn’t just tactical. It was emotional. Purposeful.
They’d already selected RB Jaydon Blue earlier that round, but James was someone they just didn’t want to risk losing. There’s no clearer sign of trust in a player’s upside than trading up in a day-three scenario when most teams are sleepwalking toward Mr. Irrelevant.
👀 The Rundown on Shemar James
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Position: Linebacker
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Age: 21
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Height: 6'1"
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Weight: 222 lbs
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Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
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High School: Faith Academy
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College: Florida
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Draft Spot: Round 5, Pick 152 (2025 NFL Draft)
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Contract: Four years, $4.6 million
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2025 Base Salary: $840,000
🚧 But Wait... Didn't They Already Stack the Linebacker Room?
Absolutely. That’s what makes this pick even more intriguing. Let’s lay it out:
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Kenneth Murray was brought in via trade, bringing some veteran presence and hard-nosed experience.
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Jack Sanborn was also acquired—a strong tackler with solid instincts.
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DeMarvion Overshown (2023 third-rounder) and Marist Liufau (2024 third-rounder) had already cost the team valuable draft capital.
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Justin Barron, a UDFA rookie and Overshown-like safety-to-linebacker hybrid, is lurking in the shadows.
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Even Damone Clark, who’s now on his third defensive coordinator in three years, is still in the mix.
So yeah, Dallas had numbers at linebacker. But sometimes, a guy just fits your mold—and James was that guy.
⚡ The Shemar James Effect: Speed, Smoothness, and Ceiling
Let’s talk about the juice this guy brings.
Shemar James isn’t some bruiser looking to eat up fullbacks. He’s more finesse. Think sideline-to-sideline range, fluid hips, and quick decision-making. The type of linebacker that’s built for today’s NFL—where coverage skills, speed, and athleticism mean more than just bulk and brawn.
He has a smooth gait, avoids second-level blockers with ease, and doesn’t waste steps in coverage. There’s a finesse to his game that you just can’t coach. And here’s the kicker—he’s just 21. That screams upside.
You could almost hear the Cowboys' war room collectively exhale when his name was still there at 152.
⏳ Short-Term Patches, Long-Term Vision
Let’s be honest. Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn aren’t the future—they’re short-term rentals. Solid players? Yes. Cornerstones? Not quite.
Overshown is coming off a major ACL injury and will miss at least two months this season. That’s a tough blow for a guy who flashed major potential before the injury bug hit. Meanwhile, Liufau is still coming into his own. The hope? That within this 3-year development window (because let’s face it, that’s what the NFL really is these days), a core trio emerges.
📍Dream trio? Overshown + Liufau + James.
💪 Making the 53-Man Cut—and Fighting for More
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Shemar James’ draft pedigree basically guarantees him a spot on the initial 53-man roster. But don’t confuse that for comfort. He’s gonna have to earn every single snap. And that fight begins now—at training camp.
The linebacker depth chart is packed. Clark, Barron, Johnson, Harris… it’s a crowded room. And Eberflus, the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator, isn’t going to hand out roles based on vibes. But what James does have going for him? That fit. He matches what Eberflus loves in his linebackers: fast processors, clean movers, and high-effort dudes.
📈 Potential Impact in 2025 and Beyond
While it's unlikely James becomes an immediate starter in Week 1, don’t be surprised if he’s playing key snaps by midseason. Whether it’s in sub-packages, on special teams, or spelling veterans, his athleticism will get him on the field.
And if the Cowboys are playing the long game here (which they clearly are), this move could age very well. Imagine if James becomes what they hoped Jabril Cox or even Jaylon Smith (post-injury) could’ve been—an all-situations linebacker who thrives in coverage, blitzes with burst, and doesn’t get swallowed in the run game.
🧩 The Bigger Picture
Draft picks aren’t just about need—they’re about identity. The Cowboys made it clear that they’re shifting from a “best player available” mindset to a “best fit for our future” strategy. Shemar James isn’t just another body. He’s part of that identity change.
This front office is betting big on player development, athletic upside, and cultural buy-in. James fits all three.
🗣️ Final Thoughts
Let’s call it like it is—most teams don’t move up in the fifth round unless they really believe in a guy. And Dallas didn’t need to do this, which makes it all the more telling. This wasn’t about filling a hole. It was about plugging in a future leader.
James is young, athletic, and fits the Cowboys’ modern linebacker mold. And while he’s still raw, the tools are there. If he puts it all together, we might look back and say this trade-up was a franchise-defining moment.
Because sometimes, greatness doesn’t come in the first or second round. Sometimes, it’s found when a team trusts its gut—and leaps.
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