Is Oklahoma State on the Verge of Its Best NFL Draft Weekend in Years?

If Oklahoma State fans don’t root for a pro team, they can probably feel free skipping the first two days of the NFL Draft.

Just don’t skip out entirely. 

Despite the worst season in decades taking place last fall, this could go down as one of the best drafts for Oklahoma State in recent memory. At least four Cowboys appear on track to receive a call from an NFL team before the draft ends on Saturday. That would tie the all-time high mark of the Gundy era previously reached in 2010, 2018 and 2021. Even if three Oklahoma State players hear their names called that would still be a noteworthy achievement considering NFL teams drafted zero Cowboys last year and two in 2023.

Here’s where draft analysts have the Cowboys going this weekend.

LB Nick Martin

2024 stats: 47 tackles (fourth-most on team) including 7.5 for loss and one sack, five quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups in five games played.

Draft projections: 

Round 3, 87th overall to Buccaneers (Mel Kiper and Field Yates, ESPN)
Round 4 (NFL.com)
Round 5, 163rd overall to Panthers (Jordan Reid, ESPN)
Round 6, 184th overall to Saints (Josh Edwards, CBS Sports)
Round 6, 200th overall to Browns (Dane Brugler, The Athletic)

NFL.com prospect grade: 5.95 (average backup or special teamer)

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein: “His monstrous 2023 production is eye-catching. He too frequently misreads play design or fails to locate the football, which leads to badly missed run fits. He gets stuck on blocks but has the speed and athleticism to pile up tackles when he stays clean. He can blitz but struggles in coverage, so shining on special teams might be mandatory for Martin to make a team as a backup.”

Further analysis: It sounds like Martin’s injury prevented him from putting the exclamation point on his case that he has what it takes to stand out at the next level. He is easily the Cowboy that seems the hardest to project headed into the weekend.

Dane Brugler ranked Martin 199th on his big board adding that, “Martin doesn’t have the size that most teams desire at the position, but his urgent athleticism will give him a chance to earn a role as a Will linebacker. He should find regular work as a core special-teamer and be the first man off the bench on defense.”

RB Ollie Gordon

2024 stats: 190 carries for 880 yards (4.6 average) and 13 touchdowns, 29 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown, one completion for 27 yards, one 2-point reception, one 2-point completion

Draft projection: 

Round 4, 108th overall to Raiders (Dane Brugler, The Athletic)
Round 5 (NFL.com)
Round 5, 161st overall to Eagles (Josh Edwards, CBS Sports)
Round 5, 172nd overall to Seahawks (Jordan Reid, ESPN)

NFL.com prospect grade: 5.98 (average backup or special teamer)

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein: “Plays with adequate decisiveness and interior vision but lacks the agility to cut sharply or slip tackles in tight quarters. When he gets going downhill he becomes a battering ram, slamming through tackles and adding tough yards after contact. He’s good in the screen game and could improve his protection in time. His 2024 production fell off through no fault of his own. Gordon is big and physical and could attract Day 2 attention from teams looking to add a bruiser to a two-back system.”

Further analysis: Gordon appeared to be one of the best running backs in this draft before the 2024 season sunk his stock. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had him as the second-ranked running back in this class in August. It doesn’t help that some analysts, including the Ringer’s Todd McShay, have praised this as one of the deepest running back classes in several years if not ever.

“He had bad quarterback play, a subpar line and every defense was keyed on stopping him. Just watch his 2023 tape and skip 2024.” – NFC national scout, according to NFL.com

CB Korie Black

2024 stats: 36 tackles, team-high three interceptions, team-high nine pass breakups

Draft projections:

Round 5 (NFL.com)
Round 5, 140th overall to Panthers (Jordan Reid, ESPN)
Round 5, 149th overall to Cowboys (Dane Brugler, The Athletic)
Round 6, 199th overall to Chargers (Josh Edwards, CBS Sports)

NFL.com prospect grade: 5.88 (average backup or special teamer)

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein: “Black played in all coverage schemes but needs more polish in press and off-man. He’s not bad at matching route breaks and releases, and he can be smothering at the catch point when his route anticipation is on. He plays with eye balance and readiness from zone but needs to trust his instincts. His difficulty finding and playing the football with his back to the quarterback is an issue.”

Further analysis: Although Black didn’t receive an invite to the Senior Bowl or the NFL Combine, he appears to be one of Oklahoma State’s safest draft picks. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler singled him out on social media more than a month ago.

Oklahoma State CB Korie Black ran his 40-yard dash in the 4.35-4.39 range today for NFL scouts. Also had a 39″ vertical.

Black is the top non-Combine CB prospect in my rankings.

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 20, 2025

LB Collin Oliver

2024 stats: Four tackles, including two for loss and one sack, team-high seven quarterback hits and one pass breakup in six quarters of play

Draft projections: 

Round 6 (NFL.com)
Seventh round, 221st overall to Jaguars (Josh Edwards, CBS Sports)
Seventh round, 241st overall to Texans (Jordan Reid, ESPN)

NFL.com prospect grade: 6.15 (good backup with the potential to develop into starter)

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein: “The right foot injury that cost Oliver all but two games in 2024 could create unsure evaluations. He’s a natural edge rusher with outstanding fluidity and movement talent but lacks the size or length to project there as a three-down player. As an off-ball linebacker in 2023 he flashed the ability to handle the position, but he clearly lacked the seasoning and recognition that can only come with more reps. No matter the alignment, he needs to play with better composure and positioning to handle run reps on his terms and make more tackles. He projects as a designated pass rusher and developmental off-ball linebacker with the ability to jump into a special-teams role.”

Further analysis: Oliver wasn’t a household name around the country, but he was on the NFL radar when the season began. His biggest task will be staying healthy and proving he still has the potential to develop into an NFL playmaker post injury.

From Dane Brugler: “Oliver is an explosive, leverage-based rusher, but he lacks the measurables for full-time edge work and is unproven dropping or playing from depth. He projects best as a nickel rusher with long-term potential as a developmental off-ball linebacker.”

G Dalton Cooper

Draft projections: 

Round 7 (NFL.com)

NFL.com prospect grade: 5.88 (average backup or special teamer)

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein: “Cooper has NFL size and has played as much football as just about any offensive lineman in the entire draft class, but his limitations might lower the ceiling of his pro potential. His pad level and core strength are issues that keep him from anchoring and sustaining enough. Still, the pass protection was good enough on tape to give him a chance to compete for a roster spot, provided he can eliminate or mitigate the waist-bending.”

C Joseph Michalski

Draft projections: 

Priority free agent (NFL.com)

NFL.com prospect grade: 5.68 (candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad)

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein: “Athletic but undersized center prospect who plays with consistency and a feel for his assignment. Michalski’s first-step quickness creates early advantages as a run blocker, but he might not have enough size to maintain those advantages against pro defenders. He’s smooth in pass protection and is effective in space as a move blocker, but long-armed defenders could put him in a tough spot if singled up in pass protection. Michalski is a feisty competitor with good tape and might be able to compete for a roster spot even though he lacks favorable measurables.”