The 2021 NFL Draft will be a very challenging one to predict due to the many obstacles presented as a result of the global pandemic. There will be no combine, pre-draft visits, and many of the top prospects opted out of the 2020 season. For this Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft, I have done my best to make viable selections despite the limited information available. Another consideration regarding this Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft, is that I have made selections at all 10 draft slots without any trades although I expect that there will be some movement in the actual draft. Here are the fundamental principles that governed my thought process for this Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft.
- I have made my selections based on what I predict the Dallas Cowboys might do, unbiased by my own preferences.
- The focus is primarily on defense.
- Best player available within reason was prioritised above need.
- Depth and Special Teams contribution was a factor for many of these selections.
With the above generalisations taken into account and from very limited information gathered on which prospects the Dallas Cowboys have spoken to or have expressed interest in, here is the Cowboys Coffee Talk Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft 2.0.
ROUND 1, PICK #10……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
PATRICK SURTAIN II, CB, ALABAMA
In my previous Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft, I selected the standout offensive tackle from Northwestern Rashawn Slater with pick #10. This time, Slater and Oregan OT Penai Sewell were already off the board. So was Florida TE Kyle Pitts removing any possibility of adding further fuel to the hot debates trending recently on social media over drafting best player available or drafting for need. My top choices here were CB Patrick Surtain II, WR Devonta Smith, LB Micah Parsons and CB Jaycee Horn. I flirted with the idea of adding another offensive weapon here but I opted to select a cornerback in spite of the supposed depth at the position in this draft. Despite my personal preference for Jaycee Horn, I could not pass up drafting Patrick Surtain II in this scenario. Having two potential outside corners that truly lack top end speed in Surtain and Diggs is worrisome but reuniting a tandem who played together in college is an added benefit. Surtain is widely considered the most polished, pro ready cornerback prospect in the entire draft and exudes top quality character traits. He was well coached coming out of Alabama and his NFL bloodlines only add to his appeal as a top prospect. The Dallas Cowboys will be able to plug Surtain into the starting lineup day 1 and he along with Diggs would shore up the starting outside cornerback spots for several years.
ROUND 2, PICK #44……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
JOSEPH OSSAI, EDGE, TEXAS
The second round presented some interesting options for me with pick #44. There were safeties such as Richie Grant, Jevon Holland, and Andre Cisco available but I do not anticipate the Cowboys drafting this early at that position. Even with a new defensive coordinator, the Cowboys will have to actually draft a safety in the top 100 picks to convince me otherwise. I also considered double dipping at corner with either Erik Stokes or Tyson Campbell from Georgia on the board as well as the second round selection from my previous Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft Elijah Molden out of Washington. There were also several options at defensive tackle but ultimately I selected Joseph Ossai here because there is a limited amount of top tier edge rushers in this draft and due to the premium on positional value. Unlike Surtain, Ossai is far from a finished product and he has plenty of room to grow but he is a player that had improved in his last season in college and is consistently around the football. Joseph Ossai is a team captain and is known for being a hard worker in practice. Adding two headstrong players like Surtain and Ossai to the defense could help kick start a much needed culture change defensively for the Cowboys.
READ MORE: FULL 2021 FIRST ROUND 32 TEAM MOCK DRAFT 1.0
ROUND 3, PICK #77……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
MARVIN WILSON, DT, FLORIDA ST.
In my previous Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft, I selected South Carolina DT Alim McNeill with the 77th pick. McNiell was unavailable this time around but I still had plenty of solid options at the position such as Wilson, Tommy Togiai of Ohio State, Tyler Shelvin of LSU, and Milton Williams of Lousiana Tech. I also considered CB Paulsen Adebo of Stanford, LB Baron Browning of Ohio State, and safeties Andre Cisco (Syracuse) and Jamar Johnson (Indiana). My selection was Marvin Wilson of Florida ST. Despite having a down year in 2020 due to injury, Wilson was considered to be a surefire first round pick coming into the year. He is a potentially dominant interior player and that is something the Dallas Cowboys have been missing defensively. The Cowboys addressed their interior defensive line with some bargain bin free agents as per usual but they also need to look to the draft to improve the interior defensive line for 2021 and beyond.
ROUND 3, PICK #99……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
MILTON WILLIAMS, DT, LOUISIANA TECH
Williams was in consideration for me with pick #77 so I was more than happy to pull the trigger using the compensatory 3rd round pick. With the previous pick I selected Marvin Wilson to compete at the 1-technique and help stop the run but the addition of Williams would provide another option at the coveted 3-technique spot. Williams also has the versatility to play defensive end. Williams has all of sudden become a very hot name after an impressive performance at his pro-day so there is a possibility he could be long gone by this point in the real NFL draft.
ROUND 4, PICK #115……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
JAMAR JOHNSON, S, INDIANA
Until now I have held off on drafting a safety keeping in the spirit of the Dallas Cowboys front office but I could not resist selecting Jamar Johnson here. Johnson has great coverage skills and ball production and he fits the mold of the centre fielder free safety that the Cowboys are in need of. The signing of Damontae Kazee coming off a major injury on a one year deal by no means solidifies the Cowboys at that spot. In addition to competing to play free safety, Johnson has experience playing on special teams which is an added bonus, especially with day three draft picks.
ROUND 4, #138……the Dallas Cowboy select………
ANTHONY SCHWARTZ, WR, AUBURN
WR Anthony Schwartz may be the fastest player in the entire draft. The former track athlete is an absolute blazer and he could provide the Cowboys with a guy that can take the top off of the defense, carry the ball a handful of times on jet sweeps, and possibly contribute on special teams. Schwartz projects to eventually take over as a slot receiver when inevitably Michael Gallup moves on and CeeDee Lamb moves to the outside.
ROUND 5, PICK #178……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
JAMEIN SHERWOOD, S, AUBURN
Here I have the Cowboys selecting back to back Auburn players and double dipping at safety. Unlike Johnson, Sherwood is more of a box safety who can potentially be a hybrid linebacker just like the Cowboys are converting former Falcon safety Keanu Neal to play. Athletically, Sherwood is limited but he is a physical player and could make the team as a core special teamer while providing depth at safety and/or linebacker.
ROUND 6, PICK #191…..the Dallas Cowboy select………
BRENDEN JAIMES, OT, NEBRASKA
Brenden Jaimes has experience at both left and right tackle but some experts believe he is better suited to play guard in the NFL. If the 2020 season has taught Cowboys fans anything it is that additional depth on the offensive line is never a bad idea.
ROUND 6, #222……the Dallas Cowboy select………
CONNOR WEDINGTON, WR, STANFORD
Another potential slot receiver, Connor Wedington also offers some return ability. Special teams would be his ticket to making the roster if the Cowboys drafted him.
ROUND 7, PICK #236…..the Dallas Cowboy select………
SHANE SIMPSON, RB, VIRGINIA
With the final pick of this Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft, I selected Virginia RB Shane Simpson. Simpson can function as a typical third down running back as he has the ability to run, catch, line up in the slot and run routes but he has some room to grow in pass protection. Simpson provides additional value also as a return man and he too would need to contribute on special teams in order to make the roster if the Cowboys drafted him.
This Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft version 2.0 has a strong emphasis on defense and special teams. My final mock will include trades and will be released closer to the NFL draft date of April 29th.
*Photo by Katie Dugan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode