Dallas Cowboys Rookie Impressing Early during OTAs originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Dallas Cowboys selected UCLA defensive tackle Jay Toia with pick No. 217 in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. … and wouldn’t it be nice is he could work out as well as the last Bruin to the ‘Boys?
The last UCLA defensive tackle drafted by the Cowboys was Osa Odighizuwa and that has worked out beautifully.
Toia is a former rugby player who doesn’t shy away from physicality. The 6-2, 341-pound Inglewood native fills an immediate need for the Cowboys as a run-stopping defensive tackle.
Maybe as a backup. Maybe as something more.
On Thursday at voluntary OTAs, Toia received first-team reps with the team’s starters. Healthy competition is vital to a team’s success to make sure players are constantly pushing each other and looking to get better. … and maybe that’s all this is.
Or maybe this signifies a major change – and an admission that Dallas’ major roster flaw … run-stopping … merits real and new answers.
The Cowboys drafted defensive tackle Mazi Smith with their first-round pick back in 2022. The former Michigan star began to show signs of growth last season, but Dallas needs more. … and inserting Toia in the mix will – if this works out – give the Cowboys an intriguing pair of 1-technique defensive tackles.
According to Pro Football Focus, Toia had his best collegiate season in 2024—posting a 69 overall grade.
The trust Toia has earned from the coaching staff early in their offseason program is a positive sign. If he continues to impress, that trust could lead to reps on the field during the regular season.
A scouting view? Toia’s ability to battle double-team blocks with a wide base will in theory help keep linebackers Kenneth Murray Jr., Jack Sanborn, and Marist Liufau free to play downhill and defend the run.
The development of Toia and his integration into defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ scheme will be an interesting storyline to follow throughout training camp as Toia could be an underrated contributor for the Cowboys defense.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.