Crucial report makes Dallas Cowboys’ pick of Shavon Revel Jr. even better in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys are taking the kind of swing they have taken for years in the second round but this time, in the third.

With the 76th overall pick, they’re selecting cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., who has been described by most analysts as a first-round talent doomed to fall in the draft order after suffering a torn ACL last season. 

Revel Jr. was considered a strong candidate for the Cowboys’ second-round draft pick and landing him in the third has to feel like a major win for the front office. Moments after the pick, Cowboys insider for Dallas Morning News Calvin Watkins provided a crucial report that makes the selection even better. 

“Team officials were told Shavon Revel Jr. should be good by July after his ACL surgery,” Watkins posted on Twitter/X. “Revel tore his ACL in September.”

That is massive for a clear and tough reality for Dallas: Trevon Diggs isn’t expected to be ready Week 1 of the regular season. Barring any free agency additions (perhaps Stephon Gilmore?), Revel Jr. could find himself in a similar spot than Cooper Beebe and Caelen Carson last year. He might be forced to start right away. If he’s back on the field by July, that gives him all of training camp to ramp up for football. 

Revel Jr.’s biggest problem will be durability, as he has a history of multiple injuries including the torn ACL in 2024, hand fracture in 2022, broken collarbone in 2018, and more. But as long as he can play, the Cowboys have a potential Week 1 starter in him. 

Shavon Revel Jr. Scouting Report

Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

Age (Birthday): 24 (04/08/2001)

A to Z Sports Expected Draft Position: 29

Pre-Draft Round Projection: 1

Shavon Revel is a bit of a tough projection given his limited experience, late career injury, and the level of competition that he played against at East Carolina. However, the small body of work that we do have on Revel is extremely promising. He allowed a career passer rating when targeted around 60 (not much better than a standard incomplete pass) and a completion percentage below 44%.

In Revel’s peak season he defended nearly 25% of the passes that were sent his way in coverage with a pass break up or interception. It would be nice to have some verified athletic testing numbers and see more games against top competition, but his length, discipline, and consistency at outside corner looks pretty undeniable. – Travis May

Career Projection: Boom Bust Starter Potential