Dallas Cowboys: Three defenders that are possibilities at 10th overall
There is no question that the Dallas Cowboys must improve the defense this offseason. The offense should be among the elite in football next season, assuming Dak Prescott is back behind center. The other side of the ball, though, has a lot of needs that must be addressed. Secondary is a huge question mark with […]
There is no question that the Dallas Cowboys must improve the defense this offseason.
The offense should be among the elite in football next season, assuming Dak Prescott is back behind center. The other side of the ball, though, has a lot of needs that must be addressed.
Secondary is a huge question mark with Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, and Xavier Woods all set to hit free agency. Defensive tackle has been a problem for years for the Cowboys. Adding a pass rusher opposite of DeMarcus Lawrence would be smart. Linebacker is becoming a large concern.
Dallas will have 10 draft picks to work with in April, including two in the top-50: 10th and 44th overall. The Cowboys should not wait until the draft to address the defense, but those selections should help in adding talent.
We have highlighted three 2021 NFL Draft prospects that have been projected to the Dallas Cowboys in the first-round during early mock drafts. A lot can change between now and April, but there is a good chance that one of these defenders could be the Cowboys' pick.
Patrick Surtain II, cornerback, Alabama
The Dallas Cowboys drafted an Alabama defensive back last year in 2020 second-rounder Trevon Diggs. Diggs had an up-and-down rookie season as expected, but he established himself as a starter in the Dallas secondary.
There is a good chance that the Cowboys add another Nick Saban product in the 2021 NFL Draft. Patrick Surtain II, the son of former NFL defensive back Patrick Surtain Sr., developed into an All-American in Tuscaloosa. He is largely considered to be among the top corners in this year's draft class.
The knock on Surtain II is his speed and overall athletic ability. He isn't the fastest defensive back in the class, and he won't test as well as others, either. Surtain struggles to change direction, which is a problem against quicker, twitchier receivers.
Still, he is considered to have a high floor due to his high football intelligence and technique. The Cowboys would be adding a safe prospect that has the ability to play immediately in the NFL if Surtain is the pick in the April.
Surtain II may not have the highest upside, but he has the talent and ability to be a starting cornerback in the NFL for a long time.
Caleb Farley, cornerback, Virginia Tech
Caleb Farley is almost the opposite of Surtain as a prospect. Whereas Surtain started for Nick Saban for multiple seasons and developed into a technically-refined corner, Farley is raw at the position and opted out of the 2020 season.
Farley is a former quarterback that also played receiver before transitioning to defensive back. His athletic ability and history playing on the offensive side of the ball shows up on tape time and time again. Instead of wanting to prevent the receiver from catching the ball, he goes up for it as if the throw is meant for him.
The Virginia Tech product loves to play the ball in the air, something that is becoming more and more important in the pass-happy NFL. Farley grabbed six interceptions in 23 games for the Hokies. He added 19 passes defended and one pick-six during his career in Blacksburg.
Surtain is considered to be the safe prospect at the position, but Farley is considered to be the high-upside player in this year's draft. He does have some bust potential due to his injury history and relative lack of experience playing defensive back. That said, he is oozing with potential and could be a star at the next level.
Farley is certainly in play for the Cowboys' first-round draft pick.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, linebacker, Notre Dame
Linebacker was once thought to be a strength on the Dallas Cowboys' roster. Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith excelled during the 2018 season and seemed destined to be the next great NFL linebacker duo.
A lot has changed since then. Both have taken steps back on the field, and both have concerning injury histories that leave us wondering how effective they will be both in the short-term and long-term.
Therefore, there is a decent chance the Cowboys decide to address the position in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft. We have highlighted one linebacker in the class that has been linked to the Cowboys.
Notre Dame's Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a very intriguing defender in this year's draft class. The former three-star recruit played all over the field while in South Bend, showing off impressive speed and coverage ability.
He is so impressive in coverage that there is a thought that he could play strong safety in the NFL. So far, he is reportedly training to play linebacker at the next level. Regardless of where he plays, JOK will surely make an impact.
He finished his Notre Dame career with 142 tackles, 24.5 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks, seven passes defended, and one interception. Those aren't just pretty box-score numbers; rather, Owusu-Koramoah was consistently all over the field for the Fighting Irish.
Dallas could save $7 million this offseason by designating Jaylon Smith as a post-June 1st cut. Could they replace Smith with a different Notre Dame product? Owusu-Koramoah certainly fits the prototype for the modern day linebacker.
It would still be a little surprising for the Cowboys to draft a linebacker in the first-round, especially if one of the two aforementioned cornerbacks are still on the board. But, Owusu-Koramoah is certainly worthy to be in play for the pick.
Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
