The Dallas Cowboys draft targets for the 2021 NFL draft will include players from numerous position groups. One position group that has been notoriously neglected in previous Dallas Cowboys draft hauls is the safety position. This position has been a weak spot for the Cowboys for decades now and starting free safety Xavier Woods is an unrestricted free agent. Cowboys fans hope that the addition of Dan Quinn as the new defensive coordinator will shift the previous Dallas Cowboys draft strategy to prioritizing safety instead of devaluing it. If the Dallas Cowboys draft a safety in 2021, there are several options in the early rounds. Here is a breakdown of some of the the top safety prospects, who would all be great fits with the Dallas Cowboys, and that they may target in the early rounds of the 2021 NFL draft.
1. TREVON MOEHRIG (TCU)
The top safety prospect for many fans and experts is Trevon Moehrig of TCU. Meohrig is listed at 6″1 and 208 lbs. Trevon Moehrig would ideally fill the free safety role for the Dallas Cowboys if they drafted him in the first round. He is an intelligent player and he possesses elite ball skills which the Cowboys covet. His production in college was consistent and he was not plagued by injuries unlike some other top safety prospects.
Concerns: Trevon Moehrig is not a great tackler and has also been known to take poor angles. This is a concern considering that was often an issue with the incumbent starter Xavier Woods.
Assessment: Moehrig is potentially the top safety in a weaker class so pick #10 would likely be far too rich to select him with, but he could be an option in a trade down scenario..
2. RICHIE GRANT (UCF)
Richie Grant has quickly become the Dallas Cowboys fan favorite “pet cat” after a strong showing at the the Senior Bowl. The 6″0 194 lbs safety is athletically gifted and has exceptional ball skills which translated into impressive production at the college level. Grant also has some position versatility which is something the Dallas Cowboys have always valued.
Concerns: Grant does require some fine tuning at the next level, specifically in diagnosing and processing plays on the field. This limitation is a bit concerning for an older prospect.
Assessment: Richie Grant has risen up mock draft boards recently so if he is available at pick #44 it would be a pleasant surprise for Cowboys fans. Grant is an exciting prospect with a high ceiling and for that reason many among Cowboys Nation are falling in love with this player.
3. ANDRE CISCO (SYRACUSE)
Andre Cisco is 6″0 203 lbs , exceptionally athletic, and possesses top end speed. Cisco is a very smart player and he excels in coverage. He is also a genuine ball hawk, who can hit hard, and is a physically aggressive playmaker.
Concerns: While being aggressive is a positive trait for Cisco, it has resulted in his giving up big plays from time to time from being overaggressive. There are also some injury concerns with Cisco who missed 3 games in 2019 and was forced to miss most of last season with an injury suffered after colliding with a teammate in warmups.
Assessment: The injury issues as well as some refinement required in Cisco’s game could drop him to the second round or beyond. Despite those concerns, Cisco is an athletically gifted playmaker and in my view he has the look and feel of a token Jerry Jones second round gamble.
4. JEVON HOLLAND (OREGON)
The 6″1, 196 lb safety out of Oregon is a gifted all around athlete and a versatile, instinctive football player . Continuing with the common theme here, Holland is yet another ball hawk but he also brings added value as a punt returner. Jevon Holland is great in coverage but he is also solid in the run game. Holland is a vocal leader on the field which is a quality the Dallas Cowboys are in dire need of. He is the most polished and complete player of all the aforementioned safety prospects in my estimation.
Concerns: Holland is a great athlete but he does not possess top end speed. He did opt out of the 2020 season which presents numerous concerns about development, character, and physical condition. It is possible that some teams will hesitate to draft players that opted out but it is unclear how the Dallas Cowboys feel about that.
Assessment: Jevon Holland is a player that I would love for the Dallas Cowboys to draft due to his instincts, versatility, and leadership. It is possible that the lack of top end speed and opting out of the 2020 season could push him down draft boards. For those reasons, it is not out of the question that he may be available in the second or third round. If the Dallas Cowboys draft him or any safety in the first 3 rounds it would be a small miracle that the entire fanbase would surely celebrate.
*Photo by Tigernet.com https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode
Very nice blog post. I absolutely appreciate this site. Stick with it!