Ajani Cornelius NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Dallas Cowboys OT

The Dallas Cowboys selected Oregon OT Ajani Cornelius with the No. 204 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Ajani Cornelius has started for four years at right tackle, two seasons at Rhode Island and the last two inside Oregon's 52-48 run-pass split, multiple-run scheme. Cornelius has a stoutly built frame with good arm length, solid play strength, and adequate athletic ability.

Cornelius excels in the run game, using his large frame and heavy hands to cover up defenders on angle-drive blocks and jolt defensive tackles over on double teams. He has very good grip strength and leg drive to drive backers on their heels and steer them away from the ball once latched. Cornelius is an opportunistic finisher with the power to dump and finish defenders once he generates momentum in the drive-phase of the block. He has an upright playing style that can get him stalemated, out-leveraged and leaning once stacked with middling agility and recovery skills that can lead to getting slipped clean.

Ajani Cornelius Highlights

00:59

Cornelius is a sturdy, rigid presence in pass protection who excels when he can square up rushers and get them to play down the middle of his frame. He shows a stout anchor when his double-under technique lands with proper timing and placement. He has shown notable improvement at protecting the corner due to an effective circle punch technique to corral high-side, outside rushes. His physical, aggressive approach will get him caught flat-footed when his punch doesn't land, and his below-average range and body control create short corners and shaky sustain skills at the top of the quarterback's drop.

Overall, Cornelius has enough size, raw strength and evolving skills as a pass protector to earn a role as a swing backup tackle/guard within his rookie contract.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 310

HAND: 9½"

ARM: 33½"

WINGSPAN: 82"

40-YARD DASH: N/A

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: 29.5"

BROAD: 8'4"

POSITIVES

— Good arm length with heavy hands to deliver jolt and stopping power on contact

— Has good mass and solid play strength to cover up and wall off first-level defenders on angle-drive, down and double-teams

— Has progressively improved his use of hands in pass protection with a good circle punch technique to widen the corner and corral high-side rushes

— Uses an effective double-under technique with good stopping power to create lift as he transitions into his anchor against the bull-rush

— Once he gets defenders on their heels has the necessary power and killer instinct to drive and dump them for full-body finishes

NEGATIVES

— Upright playing style leaves him high, out-leveraged and stalemated too often against defenders playing him head up

— Mediocre lateral quickness and redirect skills leave him tardy to shift his weight and stay in front of counter moves

NOTES

— Unranked recruit from the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Began his career at Rhode Island where he started for two seasons at right tackle before transferring to Oregon in 2023

— 2022: First-team All-Conference Colonial Athletic Association

— 50 career starts at right tackle

GRADE: 6.2 (Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 200

POSITION RANK: OT16

PRO COMPARISON: Sataoa Laumea

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn