Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft 1.0 – Fixing the Defense, Offensive Lines

After an offseason of hope, the Dallas Cowboys once again found themselves outside of the playoff picture. Returning to the postseason will be crucial for Mike McCarthy’s future, which means there is a lot riding on the upcoming NFL Draft. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the first installment of the Dallas Cowboys seven-round mock draft and see what the Cowboys could do on draft day.

Note that, for the sake of this exercise, I assumed that the Cowboys managed to find some way to keep Dak Prescott around for 2021. Whether it’s via the franchise tag or a long-term deal, I don’t anticipate Dallas looking for a quarterback in the NFL Draft. Also note that this exercise was performed using The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine, which means there is a decent chance that these prospects will be available when the Cowboys are on the clock.

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Seven-Round Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft: Seven Rounds, No Quarterbacks

1^st Round (10^th Overall) – Patrick Surtain, CB

The Dallas Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last year, and they won’t have too much money to address that problem in free agency. With that in mind, taking Alabama’s Patrick Surtain is a no-brainer mover that will immediately upgrade the defense. Surtain is as fundamentally-sound as any cornerback in the league and has the ability to line up outside and in the slot. He held his own against the best competition college football had to offer throughout his career and somehow managed to start on Alabama’s star-studded defense as a true freshman. Surtain should be a starter right out of the gate and has the potential to develop into a top-five NFL cornerback.

Patrick Surtain’s coverage diversity is a huge plus. Lines up off Kyle Pitts and does a perfect job playing him with the body while reading Trask with his eyes and reacts instantly to close and break up the pass. pic.twitter.com/7jhnd4Citn

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) February 13, 2021

2^nd Round (42^nd Overall) – Dillon Radunz, OT

What was once an elite offensive line started to show signs of slippage in 2020. The Dallas Cowboys need to improve their protection, especially with Dak Prescott returning from serious injury. Dillon Radunz is a high-risk, high-reward tackle, as he possesses the athleticism and footwork to be one of the best tackles in the NFL. However, he is notably undersized and will need to add muscle to survive at the next level. In a perfect world, Radunz will spend the 2021 season as a swing tackle before earning a starting job in 2022.

3^rd Round (74^th Overall) – Landon Dickerson, IOL

After finding their long-term answer at tackle in the second round, the Cowboys turn their attention towards the interior in the third. At 6’-6” and 325 pounds, Dickerson is an absolute monster of a man capable of pushing anyone and everyone around in the trenches. Dickerson tore his ACL late in 2020 but, assuming he’s healthy, should be able to compete for an interior starting job right out of the gate. Just that like, the Dallas offensive line goes from a crucial weakness to a solid, reliable unit.

3^rd Round (99^th Overall) – Tyler Shelvin, IDL

Speaking of getting bigger in the trenches, Tyler Shelvin. The LSU product weighs in at 6’-2”, and 346 pounds, and he knows how to use every last ounce of that muscle. Shelvin has quick hands and moves a lot faster than you’d expect from somebody of his size. While he’ll primarily serve as an interior run-stuffer, he does just enough in the passing game to have the potential to play on all three downs.

Tyler Shelvin’s NFL comp is a piece of concrete from the Vet pic.twitter.com/gLhVfaVwXg

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 25, 2021

4^th Round (115^th Overall) – Benjamin St. Juste, CB

Benjamin St. Juste is not the most well-rounded cornerback in the league, but he does have a skillset that can work in the NFL. At 6’-3”, 205 pounds, and an 80” wingspan, St. Juste has the ability to completely dominate a receiver if he gets his hands on him. He moves well in a straight line, although he does struggle making quick cuts. At the NFL level, St. Juste would probably be best utilized as a safety-cornerback hybrid similar to what the New England Patriots do with some of their defensive backs.

4^th Round (139^th Overall) – Seth Williams, WR

The Dallas Cowboys do not need another wide receiver. However, this part of the draft is all about taking the best player available, and that player was Auburn’s Seth Williams. Williams made some of the prettiest catches you’ll ever see during college, although the consistency certainly wasn’t there. He struggles to beat press coverage, but that won’t be too much of an issue when Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup taking the best cornerbacks. Having Williams as a fourth option is just unfair and will only help the Cowboys add to their big-play potential.

5^th Round (179^th Overall) – Jack Anderson, IOL

There is no feeling quite like having need and talent align during the NFL Draft, and that’s what happens in this Cowboys seven-round mock. Jack Anderson doesn’t have the physical attributes to develop into an elite guard, and he probably won’t be anything more than a good backup. That said, he has sound fundamentals and the ideal build for the NFL. In the fifth round, you’ll take that every single time.

6^th Round (193^rd Overall) – Divine Deablo, S

In true Dallas Cowboys tradition, we ignore the safety position until the sixth round. Virginia Tech’s Divine Deablo is not going to be for everyone, as he struggles in coverage and isn’t the best at changing direction. However, he’s a sound tackler that isn’t afraid to get in the trenches and shake off blocks from bigger defenders. While he’ll probably start his career on special teams, he could turn into a decent box safety with proper development.

7^th Round (232^nd Overall) – Marco Wilson, CB

If Marco Wilson is ever going to work out in the NFL, it’ll be a few years down the road. The Florida product simply has no discipline on the field and has some of the worst technique you’ll ever see. However, he clearly has the heart you want to see in a football player, as he consistently gives everything he has on every single play. Additionally, the traits are there, as his speed and hips are NFL-caliber. However, he has a long way to go before he’s ready to play for an NFL defense. Like Deablo, Wilson will be best suited on special teams as a rookie with the long-term hope of turning into a decent starter.

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