Dallas Cowboys fix their defense in final seven-round mock draft
Tonight is the night that all Dallas Cowboys fans have been waiting for since Dak Prescott went down with a horrific ankle injury in week 5 of the 2020 NFL season. Tonight marks the start of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Cowboys own 10 picks in this year's draft, so they have plenty of draft […]
Tonight is the night that all Dallas Cowboys fans have been waiting for since Dak Prescott went down with a horrific ankle injury in week 5 of the 2020 NFL season. Tonight marks the start of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys own 10 picks in this year's draft, so they have plenty of draft capital to spend to upgrade their roster. Although Jerry Jones said he won't necessarily let team needs dictate his draft strategies, it's safe to say that most of those picks will be used on the defensive side of the ball.
Dallas will be selecting 10th overall tonight (barring a trade) and will be looking to add a franchise-changing player with that pick.
Instead of trying to predict what Jerry Jones is going to do during the draft, I have put together a mock draft of what I would do if I were GM of America's Team.
For this seven-round mock draft, I used Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator. Without further ado, here's how the Cowboys' draft could unfold.
Round 1, Pick 10: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Jaycee Horn is the best defensive player in this draft class and would immediately upgrade this Dallas Cowboys secondary. At 6'0, 205 pounds with 33" arms, Horn is a perfect fit in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's scheme and is a great match to play alongside Trevon Diggs. Horn posses all the tools to be a true number one cornerback in the NFL and has tremendous upside. He will also bring some swagger that this defense is severely lacking.
Round 2, Pick 44: Asante Samuel Jr, CB, Florida State
Asante Samuel Jr might have the highest football IQ of any defensive back in this class, and like Jaycee Horn, he's a perfect fit in Dan Quinn's scheme. Samuel Jr is slightly undersized at 5'10, 180 pounds, but he's an elite athlete that would excel as a nickelback under Dan Quin and has the ability to play outside corner. Samuel Jr ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and had a broad jump of 10'4" at Florida State's Pro Day. On top of that, Asante Samuel Jr obviously has outstanding bloodlines. A Dallas Cowboys secondary featuring Trevon Diggs, Jaycee Horn, and Asante Samuel Jr would be one of the most exciting and dynamic units in the league. Samuel Jr is going to be a stud in the NFL and I'm a proponent that Dallas should trade up for him if he's not there at 44.
Round 3, Pick 65 (Trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars): Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
There's no question that the Cowboys are in dire need of a free safety, and Jevon Holland at pick 65 would be an absolute steal. Holland opted out of the 2020 season, which is why he could end up falling in the draft, but he has all the traits to be the best safety out of this draft class. He's a ball hawking defensive back that has great range as a center fielder, and has elite instincts and ball skills. In two seasons at Oregon he racked up 9 interceptions. He's also willing to defend the run and can be used as a chess piece in any defense; he's as pro ready as it gets as a safety prospect. Holland is one of my favorite players in this draft and could be the answer for the Cowboys at the free safety position.
Round 3, Pick 99: Elerson Smith, EDGE, Northern Iowa
Pick 99 might be a little too generous for Elerson Smith, but I felt good enough about my first three picks to take this risk. Elerson Smith is a 6'6, 262 pound monster edge rusher who is an athletic freak. At that size, Smith recorded a 41.5" vertical jump, a 10'7 broad jump, and ran a 4.74 40-yard dash at Northern Iowa's pro day. He also has elite production to go with that athleticism. He tallied 63 tackles, 21.5 TFL, 14 sacks, 5 fumbles, and 4 pass deflections in 15 games during the 2019 season. His best attributes include his burst, length, and hand-usage. What makes Elerson Smith a bit of a risky prospect is the level of competition he played and that he was not able to play in the 2020 season due to the pandemic. However, the Dallas Cowboys desperately need to bolster their defensive line, so he is worth the risk.
Round 4, Pick 115: Monty Rice, ILB, Georgia
Georgia linebacker Monty Rice is an intriguing prospect that is know for being a "jack of all trades" type of player. Rice seems to do everything well and plays with a relentless attitude and is another player that fits Dan Quinn's system very well. Dan Quinn has been known to like linebackers who are good tacklers and who excel in coverage, and that's exactly what Monty Rice brings to the table. Rice is listed at 6'2 235 pounds, runs in the 4.5s, and was a 4 year starter at Georgia. He'd be a great pick for Dallas to add some much needed depth at the linebacker position.
Round 5, Pick 179: Zech McPhearson, CB, Texas Tech
Texas Tech's Zech McPhearson is one of the most underrated players in the entire 2021 NFL Draft. He's got an extremely high football IQ, is a flat-out playmaker, and is an absurd athlete. In 2020, McPhearson totaled 53 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 6 pass deflections, which prove that he's got a knack for finding the football. At his Pro Day, he ran a 4.48 40-yard dash, jumped a 40.5" vertical, and had a 10'10 broad jump, which are pretty ridiculous measurables. Not to mention that McPhearson was a team captain at Texas Tech and was one of their main vocal leaders. McPhearson is a stud in both man and zone coverages as well, so he should find a way to make a name for himself in Dallas' new defense. If the Cowboys can land McPhearson, they might have themselves the steal of the draft.
Round 6, Pick 192: Josh Ball, OT, Marshall
Although Dallas needs to address the defensive side of the ball for the majority of the draft, it would be smart for them to take an offensive tackle at some point. With Tyron Smith's age and injury history, the Cowboys need to add more depth at that position. Josh Ball out of Marshall would be an ideal late-round tackle selection. Ball stands at 6'7 and weighs 308 pounds and has 35" arms. Ball could develop into a starting-caliber tackle down the line.
Round 6, Pick 227: Buddy Johnson, LB, Texas A&M
Texas A&M linebacker Buddy Johnson is a great athlete with major upside. At 6'0, 229 pounds, Johnson has 4.5 speed, had a 38.5 vertical jump, recorded a 10'8 broad jump, and clocked a 4.03 short-shuttle. Johnson would immediately contribute on special teams and would add depth to the linebacker position. It's likely that he'll develop into a starting-caliber linebacker sooner, rather than later in my opinion.
Round 7, Pick 238: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu were one of the best secondary tandems in the SEC last season, and they could reunite in Dallas. Mukuamu is more of a project, but he has the physical tools to be successful in Dan Quinn's scheme. At 6'4 with 34" arms, Mukuamu is freakishly long, which is exactly the type of corner Quinn tends to target. He opted not to run the 40 at his Pro Day due to a hamstring injury, but it's believed that he runs in the 4.3s. Mukuamu could be an interesting target for the Dallas Cowboys new defensive coordinator.
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