The Dallas Cowboys had obvious positions of need going into the offseason.
As we approach the third week of free agency, they have addressed most of those positions, albeit hardly in emphatic fashion. The positions that have been ignored? That would be wide receiver and backup quarterback.
The team had reported interest in Cooper Kupp before he got $15 million per year from the Seahawks. While CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott tried recruiting Kupp, it became apparent early on in his free agency that he wanted more money than Dallas was comfortable paying.
It seems increasingly likely the Cowboys will revisit WR in the draft. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, Missouri’s Luther Burden and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka are potential first-round targets. While not a deep class at the position, they could pivot to Day 2 or 3 if they’re unable to land a receiver in round one.
Oregon’s Tez Johnson and Miami’s Xavier Restrepo are two prospects who could be in play for Dallas in that range. While Johnson is seemingly on the team’s radar, Restrepo might be erased from their draft board altogether after his nightmarish Pro Day.
Cowboys cannot draft Miami WR Xavier Restrepo after disaster Pro Day
Those in attendance at Miami’s Pro Day clocked Restrepo’s 40-yard dash between 4.76 and 4.83 seconds. While not official numbers, those times are alarmingly slow for a receiver, even one like Restrepo who figures to spend most of his time in the slot as a pro.
According to Ryan Roberts of AtoZ Sports, not a single receiver since 1999 that ran over 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash has posted a 1,000-yard season in the NFL.
Restrepo’s 40 time alone may have tanked his draft stock, but it only got worse for the former Hurricane. He then posted a 4.21 20-yard shuttle, which doesn’t even rank in the 60th percentile for receivers. He badly needed a fast shuttle time after his 40-yard sprint.
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Restrepo’s Pro Day gives him an (unofficial) 2.90 Relative Athletic Score, which ranks 2,492 out of 3,506 receivers that have tested since 1987. For the Cowboys to draft Restrepo, they have to erase virtually every physical benchmark.
The physical limitations did not prevent Restrepo from producing at Miami. He notched 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, including leading the ACC with 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024. He’s consistent with strong hands and has a high football IQ.
Those are important boxes to check. The problem is projecting whether Restrepo’s intangibles will translate to NFL production in spite of his physical drawbacks.
All it takes is one team, but Dallas’ receiver room needs an explosive playmaker in the worst way. They need to draft someone who strikes fear into opposing defenses. Restrepo does not fill that bill despite a great final two seasons at Miami.
