Saad Yousuf

Cowboys Beat Writer at The Athletic

✍🏽 Cowboys beat writer at The Athletic 📻 Tier 69 at The Ticket | #GMG | 🍉❤️

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Articles

In Cowboys' rookie minicamp, Tyler Booker's leadership and charisma already on display

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf

The type of leadership that was advertised and teased about with the Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick, Tyler Booker, was already on display at rookie minicamp Friday. For the final question of Booker's nearly nine-minute meeting with the media in the Cowboys' locker room at The Star, the former Alabama star was asked how he's doing learning the names of his fellow rookies at camp. "I'm doing pretty well," Booker said.
Only 1 position remains as glaring need

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf

With the NFL Draft in the books and OTAs just around the corner, the first iteration of the 2025 Dallas Cowboys is about to come under the spotlight. A glaring void still exists in the wide receiver room, and the Cowboys weren't shy about it throughout the draft process. If the right receiver was available in the first round, he would have been the pick at No. 12.
Brian Schottenheimer

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf

For Dallas Cowboys fans, the three days of the NFL Draft are the pinnacle of the offseason. As a draft-and-develop organization that generally takes an optional approach to free agency, the draft is where much of the roster talent is acquired. Evaluating a draft class takes much longer than a few days. However, some immediate impact comes from the selections. Let's examine the Cowboys' winners and losers in the draft fallout.
Several immediate contributors, but big need remains

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf |Jon Machota

The Dallas Cowboys came into the 2025 NFL Draft with 10 selections and a long list of needs to fill. Upon completion of the draft, Dallas addressed some of those needs by adding nine players. After Tetairoa McMillan went off the board before the Cowboys could pick at No. 12, Dallas opted to not select a wide receiver in the draft. That leaves a big hole at No. 2 receiver that the organization will need to address through a trade or a late free-agency signing.
The Cowboys have put together a strong draft, despite not filling biggest holes

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf

FRISCO, Texas - Especially this time of year, anything NFL executives say publicly should be received with skepticism. While they sometimes speak the truth, they often talk in ways that can serve them best in landing the talent they desire. Through two days of the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys ' strategy has been exactly what they advertised it would be.
Grades, fits and scouting reports

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf |Jon Machota

The Athletic has live coverage of the second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Read more of The Athletic's coverage from the 2025 NFL Draft: Best Players Available | Draft Grades | Winners & Losers The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24 with 10 picks over the three-day draft. With the 12th pick, the Cowboys selected Alabama guard Tyler Booker - a bit of a surprise, considering receiver, running back and cornerback are high priorities.
Micah Parsons wanted Tetairoa McMillan, but calls Tyler Booker 'a beast"

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf

Micah Parsons is no stranger to the cameras or the microphone. Gauging Parsons' initial reactions to Dallas Cowboys draft picks has become somewhat of an annual tradition. On Thursday, though, it was Parsons' reaction to a selection prior to the Cowboys' slot that got some buzz. At No. 8, the Carolina Panthers selected Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, widely regarded as the best receiver in the draft and a popular Cowboys mock-draft selection at No. 12 going into Thursday night.
TreVeyon Henderson, Jaylin Noel

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf

After selecting Alabama guard Tyler Booker 12th overall, the Cowboys immediately named him the starting right guard in Thursday night's news conference. While it wasn't a sexy pick, the goal when picking in that area is to get an immediate starter, which the Cowboys believe they have. Now, things get a little tricky, because they will aim to find players at No. 44 and No. 76 on Friday to have the same type of quick impact.
Grades, fits and scouting reports

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Saad Yousuf |Jon Machota

The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24 with 10 picks over the three-day draft. Coming off a disappointing season when they didn't make the playoffs for the first time since 2020, the Cowboys have multiple positions to address in the draft. They could use a playmaker or two and receiver could be the direction they go with the 12th pick to complement CeeDee Lamb. They also could use a running back to step in and be the guy.
Choices at 12, trading up options and finding starters

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jon Machota |Saad Yousuf

The NFL Draft begins Thursday night and the Dallas Cowboys have the 12th pick in Round 1. After a 7-10 season, they have multiple needs: receiver, running back, defensive line and cornerback top the list. Let's answer several specific questions and have a little fun the day before things get going.