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. With no combine, virtual interviews replacing pre-draft visits, and many of the top prospects having opted out of the 2020 season. For this 7 round Dallas Cowboys mock draft, I have done my best to make viable selections despite the limited information available. This time, unlike my two previous 7 round Dallas Cowboys mock drafts, I have included trades. Here are the fundamental principles that governed my thought process for this 7 round Dallas Cowboys 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 final 7 round Dallas Cowboys mock draft.
ROUND 1, PICK #10……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
PATRICK SURTAIN II, CB, ALABAMA
In my Dallas Cowboys 7 round mock draft 1.0 , 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.
READ MORE: 2021 NFL DRAFT: DALLAS COWBOYS 7 ROUND MOCK DRAFT 2.0
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. 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 and a few offensive tackles as well 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.
****TRADE*** DALLAS COWBOYS RECEIVE PICK #63, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS RECEIVE PICK #75 AND PICK #115′
ROUND 2, PICK #63……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
JEVON HOLLAND, SAFETY, OREGON
I have the Cowboys trading up here to select a safety at the bottom of the second round. This goes against recent history on how the team values the safety position but there were three things that impacted my decision to ignore that trend. First of all, there is a new defensive coordinator in the building who has had success with elite safety play. Secondly, the need at safety has not been satisfied in free agency with the signing of Damontae Kazee coming off of his injury. Lastly, the Cowboys have 10 draft picks and can afford to be a little aggressive and go after a player they may covet. That is why I traded up to select the player that was selected with pick#44 in latest 7 round mock draft by Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Jevon Holland is a versatile defender with experience as a safety and a slot corner. He has exceptional ball skills and was consistently productive in terms of interceptions during his career at Oregon. Additionally, Holland adds value as a special teamer. On a side note, Jevon Holland is a Canadian born player and drafting him would continue the tradition of the Dallas Cowboys not only being America’s Team but Canada’s team. Despite losing Tyrone Crawford and L.P Ladouceur in the offseason, adding Holland would once again bring the total of Canadian players on the roster to 3 which is tops in the NFL. (Neville Gallimore and Brent Urban are the other Canadian born players)
ROUND 3, PICK #99……the Dallas Cowboy select…………….
TOMMY TOGIAI, DT, OHIO STATE
Tommy Togiaia has limitations as a pass rusher but the Dallas Cowboys really need to address their porous run defense. For far too long they have ignored the 1-technique or nose tackle position by signing undrafted free agents or washed up veterans. It is essential that the team addresses this position in the draft and the bottom of the third round is an ideal spot to add one of several run stopping defensive tackles in this draft. I have a personal preference for Alim McNeill of South Carolina or Marvin Wilson from Florida State however both of those players were unavailable in this scenario. Tommy Togiai is the next man up for me. Togiai is a dominant run defender and was a team leader with the Buckeyes. He is a player who could step into the starting rotation for the Cowboys and provide a spark with his tremendous power and tenacity in the trenches. Hopefully, the addition of a player like Togiai along with the development of the young defensive tackles already on the Cowboys roster, will vastly improve the interior defensive line play. That would in turn improve the run defense, bolster the pass rush, and free up the linebackers to make plays.
ROUND 4, PICK #138……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 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………
NICK NIEMANN, LB, IOWA
Nick Niemann is athletic, disciplined, and a solid run defender with room for growth in pass coverage. He could contribute on special teams and add depth to a linebacker corps that is due for some serious turnover in the next couple of years.
ROUND 6, #227……the Dallas Cowboy select………
DARREN HALL, CB, SAN DIEGO STATE
Darren Hall has experience playing safety and cornerback and could contribute on special teams. He is an athletic, physical, and competitive player who is a tad undersized and requires development in his technique. Hall would definitely provide excellent value if he were to be available at the bottom of the 6th round.
ROUND 7, PICK #238…..the Dallas Cowboy select………
CONNOR WEDINGTON, WR, STANFORD
A 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.
*Photo by Katie Dugan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode
As usual I love the thorough analysis! Can’t wait to welcome the future STARS of our Dallas Cowboys tonight. Go Cowboys!