What history tells us about the Cowboys draft pick at 12

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 24: Guard Tyler Booker of Alabama poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected twelfth overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images In this year’s draft, Dallas holds the 12th overall pick. After a 7-9-1 season, and they also own pick 20 from the Micah Parsons trade (which we’ll cover later).

The Cowboys coaching staff and front office message has been unusually direct, they want culture-changing first-rounders and they are focused on rebuilding a defense that was among the worst in franchise history in 2025, They are open to moving up or down, and they do not want to spend a top pick on someone who will effectively redshirt. Dallas has only used the 12th overall pick four times in team history. In 1987 they took defensive tackle Danny Noonan, who spent six years in Dallas, started 41 games, and produced 15 sacks, but never came close to matching the Randy White-sized expectations attached to him.

But regardless, Noonan still came away with one Super Bowl ring. In 1991 they took wide receiver Alvin Harper. He became a key vertical piece on the Cowboys 1990s championship teams and finished with 191 catches, 3,473 yards, 21 touchdowns, and two Super Bowls.

Harper was integral to the team’s success and often goes overlooked at how important he was at achieving such long-term success. In 2021 they took Micah Parsons at pick 12 after trading back from 10; he immediately became an impact defender and finished his Dallas run with 52. 5 sacks before being traded in 2025.