The Dallas Cowboys are made the trip to West Texas to visit with Joey McGuire and members of his impressive turnaround at Texas Tech at Pro Day on March 26.
LUBBOCK, Texas - Excitement grew at Texas Tech when head football coach Joey McGuire confirmed that Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer would be in attendance for the Red Raiders' Pro Day before the first round of the NFL Draft, beginning April 23 in Pittsburgh.
"It’s going to be awesome,'' McGuire said.
Now that day has come, and the Cowboys, like many teams scoping out Texas Tech, have defense on their mind.
The Red Raiders' historic 2025 season features a handful of top defensive prospects, and a roster of players who could all hear their names called in Pittsburgh in a little under a month.
The program record for players drafted in a single year is six back in 1956, but that was when there were three times as many rounds as there are today. Over the last 25 years, the 2009 draft featured the most Red Raiders drafted (4), headlined by Michael Crabtree and a slew of other iconic pieces from one of the best Tech teams ever.
This year's group can make just as much history, just as they did on the field this season winning the Big 12 title and making the College Football Playoff.
Who will the Cowboys brass be checking out in Lubbock? Understandably, they'll have eyes on David Bailey, but who won't? The senior pass rusher led the nation in sacks last year and is expected to be a top-five pick. Tech's massive interior defensive lineman Lee Hunter is another prospect you can't miss, literally, at 6-3 318 pounds.
So, just as Bailey's Red Raiders were one of the best defenses in college football, Schottenheimer's Cowboys were arguably the worst in the NFL. New coordinator Christian Parker has been hired, and his first major task is scouting how Dallas can use its two first-round draft picks (No. 12 and 20) to potentially boost his squad.
Outside of the obvious stars Bailey and Hunter, there are a few other Red Raiders that could be of benefit for "America's Team", and Schottenheimer will use the Pro Day to see if those determinations could lead to a draft-day investment.
LB Jacob Rodriguez
Texas Tech's do-everything linebacker Jacob Rodriguez unfortunately (and wrongfully) missed out on a chance to represent the Double T at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York City earlier (finishing fifth in voting), but the nation knows plenty well just how productive he was.
Whether it's the forced fumbles, the strong finishing ability for his size, his stellar football intangibles or the pop-off-the-sheet athleticism shown at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Rodriguez is building an impressive resume.
It's one that Dallas should seriously be considering being that Parker's unit is still without a formidable starting middle linebacker.
EDGE Romello Height
Like Rodriguez, Height's stock is picking up steam to make him a fringe first-round prospect. Day 2 of the draft is a more likely landing spot for the double-digit sack-getting who played opposite of Bailey.
Dallas picked up a third-round selection from the San Francisco 49ers in a trade including defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Pass rusher is another notable position void for the Cowboys since the loss of Micah Parsons before last season and veteran Jadeveon Clowney still being a free agent.
Height, the All-Big 12 First Team selection, recorded 38 total tackles, with 11 resulting in a loss of 71 yards, 9.5 sacks for 65 yards and two forced fumbles with one recovery. He's picked up interest from a handful of NFL teams, the Cowboys included.
Read more on that below.
S Cole Wisniewski
For an under-the-radar Day 3 prospect, the Cowboys could find value in Cole Wisniewski, especially if Dallas is interested in doubling up in the defensive backfield, assuming they draft a cornerback or safety earlier.
The Cowboys secondary was that bad last year that it's a worthy idea.
Parker and the Cowboys have emphasized coverage versatility this offseason with additions in Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant and P.J. Locke all being capable of playing multiple positions.
Wisniewski fits that mold. He's great at keeping his eyes focused on the ball and completing tackles. He also plays the run well and has that experience as a former linebacker of adapting to where his skillset and traits fit best.
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