Will McClay
VP — Dallas Cowboys
More Dallas Cowboys Players
About Will McClay
Will McClay might be the most important person in the Cowboys organization that most fans couldn't pick out of a lineup. As VP of Player Personnel, he's the one actually running the draft board. He played arena football, coached at the high school level, and worked his way into an NFL front office through sheer talent evaluation ability. No pedigree. No famous last name. Just an eye for football players that has produced picks like Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, and DaRon Bland.
The running joke is that Jerry Jones takes the podium on draft night, announces the pick with a giant grin, and accepts congratulations for a selection that Will McClay identified, scouted, and championed. McClay operates in near-total silence. He doesn't do radio hits. He doesn't hold press conferences in stadium hallways. He watches tape, builds boards, and lets the results speak. When the Cowboys hit on a draft pick, Jerry gets a magazine cover. When they miss, McClay gets blamed on Reddit. The man has been doing thankless, elite-level work for over a decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Will McClay considered one of the best talent evaluators in the NFL?
Look at the Cowboys' draft record since McClay took over the personnel department. Dak Prescott in the fourth round. CeeDee Lamb falling to 17. Micah Parsons at 12. Trevon Diggs. DaRon Bland as a fifth-rounder who led the league in interceptions. The Cowboys have consistently found starters and Pro Bowlers in rounds where other teams are hoping for roster depth. McClay's scouting process and draft board construction are widely respected across the league, even by people who otherwise want to mock the Jones family.
What is Will McClay's background before the Cowboys?
McClay played wide receiver and defensive back in the Arena Football League, then transitioned to coaching at the high school and small college level before joining the Cowboys' scouting department. He worked his way up from regional scout to director of player personnel to VP. His path is the opposite of the typical front office executive who comes from an Ivy League school or a famous football family. He learned talent evaluation by watching film in small rooms for years before anyone outside of Valley Ranch knew his name.
Last updated: April 2026