NFL
By: Greg Rector
The three day festive season for football fans known as the NFL Draft, has concluded. All over the world there were cheers and boos as teams selected players that they hope will become the next one’s to lead their favorite team to the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl title. This year’s version from Cleveland, Ohio was very well run, kudos to the Browns and the city of Cleveland for putting on a great weekend.
The 2021 draft class for the Dallas Cowboys will be properly graded only in a few years time. You can’t give real grades for any draft class until three or four years down the line. You can however project how the selections will fit in, how and why they can contribute maybe from day one, maybe in the next couple of years as you go further down the rounds. So let’s look at the picks with that lens, instead of just the instant reaction of a “WOW what a steal,” or the “What in the world are they thinking?” As I wrote in my last article the draft is for VALUE, and it’s not just about the 2021 season, but 2022, 2023 and so on. With that in mind let’s look at the future of the Dallas Cowboys draft picks.
ROUND ONE:
The Cowboys did exactly what I thought they would do all along by trading down from the 10th pick. Now I didn’t foresee them trading with a division rival in the Philadelphia Eagles, nor did the deal net us my preferred extra second round pick, but they did get an extra 3rd round selection. The two cornerbacks that were being so hotly debated were both off the board, if you follow me on Twitter I had that predicted for quite awhile. So while most fans were unhappy I wasn’t. There was a much greater, more pressing need to be filled. The linebacker position was the thinnest group on the defense, and also had the most question marks. Leighton Vander Esche doesn’t stay healthy, Jaylon Smith’s play has fallen off, and no one knows what either Luke Gifford, or Francis Bernard can actually do. Therefore trading down and drafting a linebacker had been my call for over a month.
PICK 12 MICAH PARSONS – Linebacker Penn State
6’3″ 246 lbs
New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was known for the “Legion of Boom,” whose infamy was mostly based on the secondary, but if you look more closely one of the most important factors to their success was LB Bobby Wagner. That’s the NFL comparable to Parsons. Given that Parsons is a former Butkus Award winner while only having played the position for 2 years speaks to his athleticism and instincts. He is far from polished but not only is the “floor,” high the “ceiling,” hasn’t been touched. Parsons is explosive, he plays with attitude, and athletically he is off the charts. Ran a 4.36 40. While everyone on the Jaycee Horn was clamoring for his “Dawg,” mentality, guess what the Cowboys did? Got themselves an even bigger, just as fast, and possibly a far more impactful DAWG. Even better #CowboysNation his last game played in 2019 was at AT&T Stadium in the Cotton Bowl. After the game he tweeted his desire to play in blue and white, he and his family are all Cowboys fans. That for me is vital as you all know one thing that has frustrated me so much is the lack of “Defending the Star,” especially at home. The one area Parsons must improve upon is in pass coverage. Time with Quinn will help that. That area improves and life for slot receivers and Tight Ends, won’t be pleasant for Cowboys opponents.
PICK 44 KELVIN JOSEPH – Corner University of Kentucky
5′ 11″ 197 lbs
Yes there’s character issues revolving around Joseph, especially in dealing with coaching staffs at both LSU and Kentucky. However there is no doubting his athletic ability. Minus the character questions and dealing simply with his ability, Joseph would have been a first round pick based upon physical ability. He brings with him something you all know I love in a defensive player and that’s being a “Ball Hawk,” He isn’t shy about playing physically either. So just like the first pick Joseph has the “DAWG,” mentality in spades. Ask the Alabama wide receivers (Smith and Waddle) how much fun it was to deal with Joseph. He is also very young and will need to mature in a hurry. That factor will be up to Quinn and Joseph to handle. Joseph is another fan of “America’s Team,” and while he might have those blown plays (everyone has them) Joseph will compliment Trevon Diggs on the other side of the field.
PICK 75 OSA ODIGHIZWA DT – UCLA
6’2″ 280 lbs
As with the next two picks as well, you can say that taking Odighizuwa at 75 was a reach, that’s fine and it’s fair. However what we care about is how will he fit in with Dan Quinn’s defense? Beautifully if you ask me. Now he might be considered under-sized but he fits with what Quinn loves on the defensive line, position versatility. He has played every technique in the UCLA 3-4 defense from the 0 through the 5 technique. In 27 games for the Bruins he amassed 27.5 tackles for loss. In other words he can penetrate and disrupt both the running and passing game. The days of guys who play every snap defensively are over folks. So as a part of a rotation Osa will fit in very well with the Cowboys. Another tough “DAWG.”
PICK 84 CHAUNCEY GOLSTON EDGE – IOWA
6′ 5″ 270 lbs
I have been mocking Golston to the Cowboys in the 4th or 5th rounds for awhile now. Why was I high on him? You read or listen to scouts talk about being flexible vs stiff at the top of a rush by a player? Well Golston is highly flexible compared to many of the other Edge players, even those ranked much higher. He also has a solid wrestling background. I know what does that have to do with football? Well he understands leverage and uses his hands very well against offensive tackles. How many NCAA edge players you know that had three interceptions in 2020? You do now. Golston also has huge hands at 11″. Again in this rotational era Golston is a nice selection, with very good upside.
PICK 99 NASHAWN WRIGHT CORNER – OREGON STATE
6’4″ 183lbs
There was a lot of us scratching our heads indeed when Wright was selected over Melifonwu and others with the Cowboys compensatory pick from the Byron Jones free agency signing by Miami. I mention Jones because of course he was a lengthy defender. You can’t coach size. Wright has the height and a 33″ arms that Quinn covets in his defensive backs. Quinn also attended the Oregon State pro day. The scouts won out with the other two third-round picks, this time the coaches won. Wright is a project without a doubt. However when you watch him you first realize he must physically mature, expect 12 to 15 lbs to be put on his very thin frame. Want to try going to a fade route in the red zone? Good luck throwing it over Wright. This is a pick designed to fit the Cover 3 scheme that Quinn employs. Plain and simple. Something else you see in Wright? He is not shy about hitting. You get the theme yet folks? Plays with a “DAWG,” mentality.
PICK 115 JABRIL COX LINEBACKER – LSU
6′ 3″ 233 lbs
The second position to see the Cowboys double down on. Hint, hint, folks remember why I said the linebackers needed to be addressed? Cox transferred from FBS powerhouse North Dakota State, to the SEC. While Parsons excels against the run, Cox is a linebacker that excels in pass coverage instead. Covers ground beautifully and is highly disciplined. Like Golston earlier Cox is also very fluid. The linebacker room has definitely been upgraded in a big way. Think about Vander Esche’s rookie season where he was covering everything laterally and Jaylon was able to rush the QB etc… well Cox is this drafts LVE, while Parsons is a far more explosive type over Smith. With Cox’s arrival expect the 5th year option for LVE to not be exercised. He improves as a run defender and this could be an absolute steal.
PICK 138 JOSH BALL OT – MARSHALL
6’8″ 310 lbs
A developmental pick without a doubt. Insurance against having injuries to either Tyron Smith or La’ell Collins again. Ball must improve laterally and that will help him against faster edge rushers, basically he is heavy-footed. 35′ arms though and that definitely fits with what NFL teams look for these days. The other positive attributes though are his flexibility, excellent knee bend. He has played both right and left tackle. Definitely a back up with the right coaching could be a starter in the future. Another guy who was probably going to be available a little later on.
The rest of the draft picks will be pure projects that I will cover at another time. With these 7 picks the Cowboys have hopefully answered some big question marks going forward. For me the key was shoring up the weaknesses that was so apparent on the defensive side of the football. From what I have seen of these players on film, their testing etc… I like what they have done at the draft. The fact that these defensive players all come with the “DAWG,” mentality hopefully translates into a team that no longer gives up an average of 158 rushing yards, no longer gives far too many big pass plays, and a group that will look to take away the football.
As always you can find me on Twitter @GregCowboys
