Identifying top NFL Draft prospects for Dallas Cowboys
This season has gone anything but planned for the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott went down with injury, the defense began the year playing historically bad, and the team is on track to finish dead last in the worst division in all of professional football. While there has been no shortage of frustration surrounding the Dallas […]
This season has gone anything but planned for the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott went down with injury, the defense began the year playing historically bad, and the team is on track to finish dead last in the worst division in all of professional football.
While there has been no shortage of frustration surrounding the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, there are some silver linings from the disappointing season. Prescott is reportedly on schedule in his recovery process and all signs point to the star quarterback returning to form next season.
Additionally, the Cowboys are on pace to finish the season with a top-5 selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. This is big news because it will allow an otherwise playoff contender to potentially add a blue-chip player with a returning Prescott and all of the other injured players that are expected to be back in time for next September.
Here are three candidates that the Dallas Cowboys could potentially add come April if they are not able to find a partner to trade back with.
Penei Sewell, offensive lineman, Oregon
The crown jewel of the 2021 offensive line class is none other than Oregon Ducks star Penei Sewell. Sewell performed as one of the best offensive linemen across the nation during his first two seasons on the collegiate level before opting out of his junior campaign in Eugene.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 325 pounds, Sewell has a large frame to pair with his impressive athleticism and mobility for an offensive lineman. The former blue-chip high school prospect has only exceeded expectations since arriving on the college scene, and he is a sure-fire bet to go in the top-5 picks of the upcoming draft.
With Tyron Smith consistently battling injury, it would not be a bad idea to secure the team's tackle of the future with a premium pick. In fact, Sewell is so talented that he has the ability to step in at guard if needed, allowing the Cowboys to be flexible with him.
Either way, Penei Sewell is an elite talent on the offensive line, and Dallas Cowboys fans would be wise to get familiar with what he brings to the table.
Patrick Surtain, Jr., defensive back, Alabama
The Dallas Cowboys have been so good offensively with Dak Prescott behind center, so it would make sense for the team to prioritize the defensive side of the ball this offseason. One of the biggest needs on the Cowboys is in the defensive backfield.
Rookie corner Trevon Diggs appeared to be coming on strong before injuring his foot against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Elsewhere, the Cowboys have yet to have really anybody consistently step up in the secondary, and it remains to be seen if Chidobe Awuzie will be back after his rookie deal expires.
That brings us to Patrick Surtain, Jr., who is widely considered to be the top prospect at the cornerback position in the 2021 class. Surtain offers strong bloodlines — his father played in the NFL for 11 seasons — ideal size for the position, and experience playing against top-level competition while in Nick Saban's secondary.
The Cowboys have a glaring need in the back-end of the defense, and Surtain has the potential to come right in and make a relative impact for America's Team. It doesn't hurt that he has experience playing with Trevon Diggs, either.
Should Surtain be the pick, Dallas would be getting a big, intelligent defensive back that would improve the secondary sooner rather than later.
Caleb Farley, defensive back, Virginia Tech
While Surtain is widely considered to be the draft's top corner, Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley is not far from behind. In fact, Farley is who The Athletic's Dane Brugler has being picked by the Cowboys in his most recent mock draft.
If the Cowboys have a chance at Sewell, I don’t think they pass on him. But if he is off the board (like in this scenario), that leaves two options: trade down or take the top defensive player available. This draft class lacks a no-brainer top defender like Chase Young a year ago, but Farley is an ascending cornerback with size, speed and ball skills.
Similar to Sewell, Farley also opted out of the 2020 season and will have no additional tape for scouts and evaluators to break down. Still, that has not hurt Farley's draft stock much at all, as he showcased his ability in a big way over the course of his first two seasons in Blacksburg.
Farley possesses impressive size at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, has six interceptions to his name in 23 games, and is faster than the aforementioned Surtain.
Still a raw player that needs some refinement, Farley could have used another season the collegiate level before making the jump to the professional ranks. That said, he possesses intriguing traits with his length and ball skills and likely isn't close to hitting his ceiling.
If the Dallas Cowboys are looking to hit on upside, Caleb Farley brings a lot to the table that is easy to like at the cornerback position.
Featured image via Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
