Cowboys linked to record-setting sprinter in mock draft

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Isaiah Bond. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cowboys linked to record-setting sprinter in recent mock draft

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 5/6/24

A college speedster, who recently joined Texas after previously playing at Alabama, has already been linked to the Dallas Cowboys in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Isaiah Bond is a former high school record holder (21.06s) in the 200-meter dash. He had 48 catches for 668 yards as Alabama’s second-leading receiver last season but transferred to Texas upon head coach Nick Saban’s retirement.

New head coach Kalen DeBoer reached out to him, but Bond stayed away and looks poised to have a breakout year in Austin.

Not only will he catch passes from Quinn Ewers, one of three quarterbacks expected to go at the top of the draft with Georgia’s Carson Beck and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, but Texas needs to replace 3,046 yards and 19 touchdowns from Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, Adonai Mitchell and Ja'Tavion Sanders who were all drafted in 2024.

With 43 seconds left and 4th & long, Auburn couldn't keep Alabama out of the end zone pic.twitter.com/S5MDtz9xAC
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 26, 2023

In a recent mock draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Dallas taking Bond 24th overall next year, seven spots later than it drafted wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in 2020. Since then, Lamb has 395 catches for 5,145 yards and 32 touchdowns with three more scores on the ground.

But would Bond be a complimentary player to Lamb or his eventual replacement? Lamb is due to make $17.9M on his fifth-year option and would be eligible for a franchise tag in 2025. He wants to be paid as one of the top receivers in the NFL and for good reason.

Per Statmuse, Lamb has the fifth-most yards among wide receivers since joining the league. He finished 50 yards shy of Tyreek Hill for the league lead with 1,749 yards last season while posting a career-high 12 touchdowns.

Lamb recently skipped the team’s voluntary workouts, and it doesn’t sound as if either side is close to a deal. At 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, Bond will never come close to matching Lamb’s physical prowess, but a player with his speed may not last until the 24th pick.

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