The Dallas Cowboys started off the seventh and final round of the 2025 NFL Draft by addressing another need on defense. With their first of three picks in the round, the Cowboys took their fourth defensive player of this draft in UCLA defensive tackle Jay Toia.
At a point in the draft where other teams are drafting for traits and hoping to find guys that can compete for a roster spot or hang around on the practice squad, the Cowboys found another player from a blue-chip program that has a clear path to actually get on the field early. Toia is a 6’2”, 342-pound 1-technique defensive tackle that is stout against the run.
Toia will join the developing Mazi Smith, last year’s seventh-round pick Justin Rogers, and Denzel Daxon as 1-techniques on the roster. Using a seventh-round pick on this position is hardly a sign the Cowboys have changed their evaluation of defensive tackles with new coaches everywhere on defense, but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter where contributing players came from.
New DC Matt Eberflus has clearly had his hands all over this draft, and the work at defensive tackle started early with the re-signing of Osa Odighizuwa as a 3-technique. It continued with the addition of former first-round pick Solomon Thomas, who can play some at both the three and one. Now, the Cowboys are bulking up even more with their seventh-round pick.
Toia is not the “bucket of dirt” style defensive tackle the Cowboys have not had success with in the past. This doesn’t mean the Cowboys want him on the field in many pass rush situations, especially considering how much they have loaded up on rushers, but he will use his build to disengage offensive linemen, penetrate the backfield, and make flowing plays down the line.
BTB’s Dan Rogers had Toia high on his list of “sneaky-good late round finds” at DT for the Cowboys:
Jay Toia, UCLA
At 340 pounds, Toia has spent the last three seasons taking up space for the Bruins’ defensive line. He’s a hyper player, always moving and slowly pushing the pile. He’s a consistent roadblock that forces offenses to find another path. While he’s not a great shedder, he does have good play awareness and will follow the play. This creates opportunities for pass deflections and late-play tackles. He doesn’t quit. And while his role will be a two-down run-stopping nose, his happy feet allow him to create pressures on the quarterback.
But as big as he is and the energy he brings, his college production just doesn’t tell much of a story, and that’s why he’ll be available later in the draft. He’s not able to bring the power you’d hope a guy his size would, and he’s just there to absorb blocks and let the other guys clean up. If his game were a little more disciplined and he wasn’t just out there running amok, he might be a more productive big man.
By also addressing running back here on day three with Jaydon Blue, the Cowboys have two picks remaining and only wide receiver as a true pressing need still left. Defensive tackle depth was more of a sneaky need, but one the team should feel good about targeting at 217th overall.
