Draft Grades

NoDak

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Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State - Along with the trade down, this is a solid A pick. The kind of guy that can help transform a defense

Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky - All the talent in the world. questionable character. classic boom or bust. Has the ability to be the best corner out of this draft, or be out of the league in 3-4 years. B

Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA
- Talented, but undersized player. Strange pick, considering we have a few of his clones already on the team. C

Chauncey Golston, DE, Iowa
- High motor, safe player. Picked a little early. Another player with a lot of young competition to make the team. Could struggle making the team if he doesn't establish himself early. C-

Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State
- Who in the fuck spiked Jerry's scotch with LSD? Not funny, asshole. F

Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
- Here we go, back on track. Very active, instinctive player. Best coverage LBer in draft. Has the ability to step in and start from day one. Only thing preventing that is an overpaid, underperforming owners project. Should play a lot, and eventually take over the starting spot. Hopefully sooner rather than later. A

Josh Ball, OT, Marshall
-Size and athletic ability. Has the talent to contribute and hold down the fort in case of injury. Maybe develop into a starter down the road. Combustible character concerns. Will have very short leash and the eyes of the league upon him from the start. B+ talent along with D+ risk makes this a C+

Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford
- Excellent size and measurables prospect. Should immediately be a special teams contributor, with the tools to develop into a nice deep threat. B

Quinton Bohanna, DT, Kentucky
- We finally got ourselves a huge tub of goo for the middle of our D Line. Won't offer much in the pass rush, but we don't need him too. Anchor the line and clog the middle. Let our LBers run free. And you will be beloved by the fans in Dallas. A-

Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
-Long and tall corner with decent ball skills. Had a productive collegiate career. If this guy and Wright had traded draft positions, nobody would have thought much about it. Nice value pick that fits our scheme perfectly. A

Matt Farniok, OG, Nebraska
- Decent enough Olineman for this point in the draft. Has played all spots on the line, will probably be focused on G/C in the NFL. There were other more talented players on the board to take a flyer on. This guy would have been there as a UDFA. Practice squad candidate. D

Overall grade: B-
 

NoDak

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DALLAS COWBOYS
R1 (12): LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
R2 (44): CB Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky
R3 (75): DI Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA
R3 (84): EDGE Chauncey Golston, Iowa
R3 (99): CB Nahshon Wright, Oregon State
R4 (115): LB Jabril Cox, LSU
R4 (138): OT Josh Ball, Marshall
R5 (179): WR Simi Fehoko, Stanford
R6 (192): DI Quinton Bohanna, Kentucky
R6 (227): CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
R7 (238): OG Matt Farniok, Nebraska

Day 1:
The Cowboys seemed destined to take a cornerback at No. 10 overall, but the Panthers starting a mini-run at the position allowed Dallas to trade back and reassess. Linebacker isn’t an obvious need, with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander-Esch already there, but Parsons is the best linebacker prospect we have seen in years and could provide some versatility to the Cowboys defense.

Day 2: Both Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II coming off the board before the Cowboys’ selection in the first round led to the team selecting a linebacker in Round 1, but they fill the need at cornerback here with Joseph. The Kentucky product has elite speed and is a fluid mover at his size, but there were questions about his consistency on tape. That’s why he ranked just 67th on PFF’s Big Board.

No interior defensive lineman was more dominant at the Senior Bowl than Odighizuwa. He was the highest-graded player at the position both during the week of practice and in the game itself, winning with power and quickness. Odighizuwa also has four seasons of solid-run defense grades on his resume from his time at UCLA. He addresses a clear area of need for Dallas. Their defensive tackles were regularly blown off the ball in 2020.

Golston developed at a solid pace during his time at Iowa, going from a 63.7 grade in 2018 to 75.1 in 2019 before breaking out with an 82.3 grade last season. He is a physical and willing run defender and uses his hands extremely well as a pass rusher. He just might not have the explosiveness to play every down in the NFL.

From out of left field, the Cowboys select Last Chance U cameo star, Nahshon Wright. He’s a long corner and shows good ball skills, and he picked up five interceptions in only 18 games in his Beaver career. He is more of a zone player, which may fit Dan Quinn’s scheme, but his athleticism leads a lot to be desired, and that’s why this is a very big reach.

Day 3: Jabril Cox was the top player on PFF’s Big Board entering Day 3. We projected him as a second-round prospect. He is such a smooth player in coverage, showing as much both at North Dakota State and LSU in zone coverage, when going up against tight ends and while covering the slot. This past year for the Tigers, Cox ranked third among Power Five off-ball linebackers in coverage grade. His play strength isn’t anything special, though.

Draft Grade: B

 

Cowboysrock55

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DALLAS COWBOYS
R1 (12): LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
R2 (44): CB Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky
R3 (75): DI Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA
R3 (84): EDGE Chauncey Golston, Iowa
R3 (99): CB Nahshon Wright, Oregon State
R4 (115): LB Jabril Cox, LSU
R4 (138): OT Josh Ball, Marshall
R5 (179): WR Simi Fehoko, Stanford
R6 (192): DI Quinton Bohanna, Kentucky
R6 (227): CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
R7 (238): OG Matt Farniok, Nebraska

Day 1:
The Cowboys seemed destined to take a cornerback at No. 10 overall, but the Panthers starting a mini-run at the position allowed Dallas to trade back and reassess. Linebacker isn’t an obvious need, with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander-Esch already there, but Parsons is the best linebacker prospect we have seen in years and could provide some versatility to the Cowboys defense.

Day 2: Both Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II coming off the board before the Cowboys’ selection in the first round led to the team selecting a linebacker in Round 1, but they fill the need at cornerback here with Joseph. The Kentucky product has elite speed and is a fluid mover at his size, but there were questions about his consistency on tape. That’s why he ranked just 67th on PFF’s Big Board.

No interior defensive lineman was more dominant at the Senior Bowl than Odighizuwa. He was the highest-graded player at the position both during the week of practice and in the game itself, winning with power and quickness. Odighizuwa also has four seasons of solid-run defense grades on his resume from his time at UCLA. He addresses a clear area of need for Dallas. Their defensive tackles were regularly blown off the ball in 2020.

Golston developed at a solid pace during his time at Iowa, going from a 63.7 grade in 2018 to 75.1 in 2019 before breaking out with an 82.3 grade last season. He is a physical and willing run defender and uses his hands extremely well as a pass rusher. He just might not have the explosiveness to play every down in the NFL.

From out of left field, the Cowboys select Last Chance U cameo star, Nahshon Wright. He’s a long corner and shows good ball skills, and he picked up five interceptions in only 18 games in his Beaver career. He is more of a zone player, which may fit Dan Quinn’s scheme, but his athleticism leads a lot to be desired, and that’s why this is a very big reach.

Day 3: Jabril Cox was the top player on PFF’s Big Board entering Day 3. We projected him as a second-round prospect. He is such a smooth player in coverage, showing as much both at North Dakota State and LSU in zone coverage, when going up against tight ends and while covering the slot. This past year for the Tigers, Cox ranked third among Power Five off-ball linebackers in coverage grade. His play strength isn’t anything special, though.

Draft Grade: B

I think this is a pretty fair assessment
 

shoop

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I agree with most of this. The only picks I disliked for the players were Wright and Farniok. I am fine with the other picks just not where they were selected or who was available when they were selected. I'm still at C+/B-
 

Cowboysrock55

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No interior defensive lineman was more dominant at the Senior Bowl than Odighizuwa. He was the highest-graded player at the position both during the week of practice and in the game itself, winning with power and quickness. Odighizuwa also has four seasons of solid-run defense grades on his resume from his time at UCLA. He addresses a clear area of need for Dallas. Their defensive tackles were regularly blown off the ball in 2020.

Golston developed at a solid pace during his time at Iowa, going from a 63.7 grade in 2018 to 75.1 in 2019 before breaking out with an 82.3 grade last season. He is a physical and willing run defender and uses his hands extremely well as a pass rusher. He just might not have the explosiveness to play every down in the NFL.
This is pretty much how I feel about these two picks. Osa was dominant at the Senior Bowl against really good competition, I think he will be our best 3 technique before long. I think too many people see him and think Crawford. But Crawford was a college DE that played some 3 technique for us and hung around way too long. This is a college DT who can play some 3-4 DE.

Golston admittedly is more Crawford like. I think he is built slightly differently but I get the comparison more. But Quinn said during his PC that we would do 3-4 fronts for our base defense. I think that's where Golston will play and play extremely well.
 

NoDak

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9) Dallas Cowboys

Grade: A-

Key Picks: Micah Parsons (LB, Penn State), Kelvin Joseph (CB, Kentucky), Osa Odighizuwa (DE, UCLA), Chauncey Golston (DE, Iowa), Nahshon Wright (CB, Oregon State), Jabrill Cox (LB, LSU)

Analysis: Traded down after missing out on top two cornerbacks and landed Parsons, maybe the draft’s best overall defensive prospect. Their first six picks were defense after setting a franchise record for most points allowed in 2020.

 

NoDak

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NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: B-

The Cowboys used their first six picks, five of them in the top three rounds, to attempt to rebuild their defense. That was understandable. Being able to get LB Micah Parsons, perhaps the top defender in the draft, after trading down two spots from 10th to 12th, was fortunate. Adding two CBs in the top three rounds, Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright, addressed a major need. But it’s questionable whether the Cowboys chose wisely on their CBs and got the most out of their Day 2 selections. Perhaps one of those picks on the first two days should have been devoted to the offensive line.

 

NoDak

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In a winners and losers of the draft article, there was a section for the Swiper and LVE.

:lol

Loser: Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch
The writing was on the wall for these guys when the Cowboys landed Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons in the first round, but it's blinking neon lights after Dallas added LSU linebacker Jabril Cox in the fourth. It's entirely possible that both Smith and Vander Esch are off the roster by this time next year, which is pretty crazy considering it wasn't that long ago that they looked like one of the best linebacker tandems in the league. Smith's dramatic drop-off and LVE's injury issues caused the Cowboys to move aggressively to replace them.
 

NoDak

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Dallas Cowboys 2021 draft grade
The Dallas Cowboys focused heavily on their defense in this draft. However, character questions and uninspiring selections reduce the grade for the Cowboys coming out of the 2021 NFL Draft. There are some intriguing selections as well, such as Jabril Cox, and Simi Fehoko.

Grade: C+

 

Shiningstar

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C+, the negatives outweigh the positives because Dallas needed more.

Still no safety, very few prospects that will grow. Im ok with no high CB, we ve done that and it doesnt always pan out as the best move.
 

Simpleton

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If Parsons pans out and we can get two more starters and another rotational depth guy or two that's mostly a win. I think between Joseph/Osa/Golston/Cox there's a pretty good chance of that.

When you add in the character question marks with Joseph and the confounding use of a 3 on a UDFA I'll give it a B-.
 

P_T

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I agree with most of this. The only picks I disliked for the players were Wright and Farniok. I am fine with the other picks just not where they were selected or who was available when they were selected. I'm still at C+/B-
After watching this (Joe Fan, I'm guessing):



I'm ok with a 7th.
 

1bigfan13

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Machota and Sturm's summary:

Cowboys’ best pick, biggest head-scratcher, needs left: 2021 NFL Draft takeaways


The Cowboys completed the NFL Draft by selecting a total of 11 players. That’s the most picks made by the franchise in a draft since picking 12 players in 2009. The Athletic’s Jon Machota and Bob Sturm share their immediate takeaways on Dallas’ draft by answering the following five questions.

The picks
• Micah Parsons, LB, first round, No. 12
• Kelvin Joseph, CB, second round, No. 44
• Osa Odighizuwa, DT, third round, No. 75
• Chauncey Golston, DE, third round, No. 84
• Nahshon Wright, CB, third round, No. 99
• Jabril Cox, LB, fourth round, No. 115
• Josh Ball, OT, fourth round, No. 138
• Simi Fehoko, WR, fifth round, No. 179
• Quinton Bohanna, DT, sixth round, No. 192
• Israel Mukuamu, CB, sixth round, No. 227
• Matt Farniok, G, seventh round, No. 238

Best pick?
Machota: Jabril Cox. He probably won’t be the best player from this class, but he was a great value in the fourth round. Most experts projected him to go in the second or third. On Cox’s draft call, Jerry Jones said they were excited to have him run with receivers and tight ends because of how the game is evolving. It doesn’t sound like Cox is a great run defender, but he should be able to contribute immediately on special teams and in passing situations against tight ends.

Sturm: Kelvin Joseph. They had their plans ruined at the top of the draft to get a corner they simply had to have, so to be able to rally in Round 2 and have a little good fortune allow Joseph to get to them was vital. He should be a fine pairing with Trevon Diggs and perhaps even a Week 1 starter who has elite upside and some concerns that he is ready to take advantage of this opportunity to be a great pro.

Biggest surprise?
Machota: Nahshon Wright. He wasn’t regarded as one of the top corner prospects in this class. Most experts had him going in the seventh round or even being an undrafted rookie free agent. Dane Brugler ranked him as the 38th cornerback prospect. Wright ended up being the 12th corner picked. New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn prefers long corners and Wright fits that mold (6-4 with 33-inch arms). He also tracks the ball well. Some in the organization believe he is similar to Diggs in that area.

Sturm: Jabril Cox. This one is easy. After knowing they had almost taken Cox a few other times, but saw more pressing concerns, they finally had to grab him in front of the Giants in Round 4. Cox was potentially a Top-50 prospect and the athletic cover linebacker who has been badly needed here the last few years. It should shock nobody if he is starting by 2022.

Biggest question mark?
Machota: Wright. Drafting a player at the position made sense, even after getting Kelvin Joseph in the second round. But Wright seems like a reach right now. If he ends up being a bust, the Cowboys will be heavily criticized because of the players still on the board when this pick was made. The next three picks were also cornerbacks, Elijah Molden to the Titans, Ifeatu Melifonwu to the Lions and Ambry Thomas to the 49ers.

Sturm: Wright. This one was puzzling for pretty much everyone who covers the draft because seldom does a prospect seem so off the radar. That said, he has very unique and interesting tools and seems to have been a player that they really wanted. He will either be the guy that Dallas is mocked for taking so early or it will verify that they know what they are looking for and should not be underestimated in talent discovery.

Needs left unaddressed during draft?
Machota: No surprise here, but safety remains the biggest weakness on the roster. The Cowboys say they were interested in safeties on Day 2, but they would’ve needed to trade up to get one of the top three. Jevon Holland went to the Dolphins at Pick 36, Richie Grant went to the Falcons at Pick 40 and the Raiders traded one spot ahead of Dallas to take Trevon Moehrig at 43. The Cowboys picked Joseph at No. 44. Did the Raiders get Dallas’ guy? Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones: “I’m sure they think that. But corner was real important to us. As much as we love the player that the Raiders got, we were pretty focused on getting a corner.” Dallas was picking Joseph even if Moehrig was still available.

Sturm: Probably the biggest item unaddressed would be the safety position which has long since been a punchline. It has been many years since they invested substantial capital in this spot of the roster and it seems to have hurt their team defense. This appeared to be the year when they were going to closely pursue the top prospects and pounce, but Round 2 was probably the last real chance and that was missed when they vanished before the pick. Would they have taken a corner or a safety at 44 if they had their pick?

How has the outlook for the season changed?
Machota: For the first time in franchise history, the Cowboys spent their first six picks all on defense. That’s not a huge surprise considering they had arguably the worst defense in franchise history in 2020. Now it’s up to new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to put the players in position to have success. A complete turnaround is not going to happen overnight, but the defense appears to have gained multiple future starters from this draft class. It’s a start. But the wins this team gets in 2021 will largely continue to be because of what they do on offense.

Sturm: There appears to be a path to the defensive rebuild bearing some fruit in 2021 with the overhaul and the injection of their first six picks all being potential contributors on defense as well as the numerous new bodies via free agency. That is what will determine this season’s success assuming a return to health by the offense that should again be amongst the league’s best. Can the defense go from the bottom of the league back to at least the middle? If so, the draft will be why. They look now like a defense that should play well with the lead. Now they need to see it through.
 

boozeman

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Kiper Grade:

Dallas Cowboys: B

Top needs: CB, DL, OL, TE

1/12 Micah Parsons ILB Penn State
2/44 Kelvin Joseph CB Kentucky
3/75 Osa Odighizuwa DT UCLA
3/84 Chauncey Golston DE Iowa
3/99 Nahshon Wright CB Oregon State
4/115 Jabril Cox ILB LSU
4/138 Josh Ball OT Marshall
5/179 Simi Fehoko WR Stanford
6/192 Quinton Bohanna DT Kentucky
6/227 Israel Mukuamu CB South Carolina
7/238 Matt Farniok G Nebraska

The Dallas defense was awful last season, even before Dak Prescott was lost for the year in Week 5. This couldn't be another CeeDee Lamb situation, where they went with an offensive playmaker even with massive holes on the other side of the ball. They had to get the best defender on the board with their pick, ideally a cornerback. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, though, the top two corners went in the two picks before them at No. 10, so give them credit for trading back two spots, adding an extra third-rounder and still getting the guy they say they wanted all along.

The questions now are ... where does Micah Parsons (12) fit, and what does it mean for 2018 first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch and 2016 second-rounder Jaylon Smith? I didn't peg off-ball linebacker as a need for Dallas, but the organization didn't draft Parsons to sit on the bench. So maybe it will move on from Vander Esch and plant Parsons at middle linebacker. He'll improve a porous run defense; the Cowboys allowed a woeful 1,758 rushing yards before first contact last season, by far the most in the league. With Rashawn Slater still available, I thought he would have filled a need at guard. (They added to the off-ball linebacker group on Day 3 with Jabril Cox (115), who has some coverage traits.)

The Cowboys continued their attempt to improve the defense on Day 2 and ended up using all five of their first picks on defenders. Cornerback Kelvin Joseph (44) has lock-down traits, and the team will hope that he can make the same sort of impact that second-rounder Trevon Diggs did a year ago. Defensive linemen Osa Odighizuwa (75) and Chauncey Golston (84) were lower on my board, but they'll help against the run.

I had a late-Day 3 grade on Nahshon Wright (99), but he's a big 6-foot-3 corner who fits the mold of what new coordinator Dan Quinn likes outside. He's quite confident in his skills, but I didn't see an NFL starter on tape. Israel Mukuamu (227) is another rangy corner, as Dallas showed its commitment to finding guys for Quinn. Simi Fehoko (179) has some speed for a 6-foot-4 wideout, though this team's receiver room is crowded.

In total, the Cowboys added eight defenders in this class, though they reached for a couple of them. If Quinn's corner picks work out, though, they could have a couple of steals.
 

Bill Shatner

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Walter Football Grades

NFL Draft Team Grade: C- Grade

Goals Entering the 2021 NFL Draft:
The Cowboys had an extremely weak defense last year, so they must fix every level of that unit. They must also address the offensive line, given their massive blocking issues in 2021. Some of that was due to injury, but it's not like Dallas can count on Tyron Smith staying healthy.

2021 NFL Draft Accomplishments: What a disaster! The Cowboys desperately wanted Patrick Surtain in the first round, yet the Broncos plucked him off the board one pick earlier. And if that wasn't enough, Dallas coveted both Trevon Moehrig and Jevon Holland in the second frame, but both were chosen before the team was put on the clock.

The Cowboys had to settle for Micah Parsons and Kelvin Joseph as a result. Both aren't ideal because they carry character concerns. They have nice potential, but their floor is quite low. They probably should have gone a bit lower than where the Cowboys drafted them.

I at least like that the Cowboys traded back once Surtain was off the board - screwing the Giants out of Devonta Smith in the process - but this was just an underwhelming draft class overall. It's a shame for Dallas because poor circumstances ruined its plans, but it's not like I can adjust my grade for that. Four of the Dallas' first five grades scored a "C" grade or worse, so the team grade must be in that area.




12. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State - C+ Grade
Charlie Campbell, who was 8-of-8 in his 2021 NFL Mock Draft, reported a few years ago that an NFL team removed Leighton Vander Esch from their draft board because of concerns regarding his neck injury. Now, we see why that team was so worried. Vander Esch hasn't been able to stay healthy, while Sean Lee just retired. The Cowboys needed a linebacker, and Micah Parsons is a mega talent. He has some glaring off-the-field concerns, however, so I can't grade this too favorably.


44. Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky - C- Grade
Ouch. The Cowboys really wanted Trevon Moehrig and Jevon Holland, yet both safeties were snatched off the board before their pick. The Cowboys had to settle for Kelvin Joseph, a raw cornerback with character concerns. Joseph belonged in the third or fourth round, so this was a reach. That said, Joseph could meet his upside and fill a big need.


75. Osa Odighizuwa, DE/DT, UCLA - B Grade
This is an upside pick for the Cowboys, as Osa Odighizuwa is a very athletic player who can get after the quarterback. The problem is that he's a tweener and a liability against the run. This selection has a low floor, but I like Dallas taking a chance with this selection.


84. Chauncey Golston, DE/DT, Iowa - C Grade
I mocked Chauncey Golston to the Cowboys, but in the fifth round. He's a high-motor, high-effort player, but he's not very talented. The Cowboys could have done better, but this isn't a terrible pick.


99. Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State - F Grade
Nahshon Wright is a tall cornerback (6-4), but that's all he has going for him. He's very thin and frail, and he'll be beaten up by tougher receivers. Wright is the first prospect chosen I never slotted in my mock draft, so I have to flunk the Cowboys for this pick.


115. Jabril Cox, LB, LSU - A+ Grade
Jabril Cox would have been chosen in the second round if he didn't have any injury issues. At this point in the draft, it's worth it to take that sort of risk. This is a steal for the Cowboys, who needed a second linebacker because of Leigthon Vander Esch's neck problems, which one team flagged him for prior to his draft.


138. Josh Ball, OT, Marshall - C- Grade
The Dallas offensive line was a huge problem last year, so it's not a surprise that the team addressed this area. It's a bit of a surprise that they took Josh Ball at this juncture because I had him in the seventh round, so I'm not a fan of this value.


179. Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford - A Grade
For the second year in a row, the Cowboys spent a great value pick on receiver without needing to address the position very much. Simi Fehoko was pegged in the fourth round, so this is a steal. Amari Cooper won't be around much longer, so Fehoko could start in the future.


192. Quinton Bohanna, NT, Kentucky - C+ Grade
The Cowboys struggled to stop the run last year - or do anything positive on defense - so Quinton Bohanna will help in that regard. I didn't think Bohanna would be drafted, but I don't hate this pick because he could address a big need.


227. Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina - A+ Grade
Here's another great value! Israel Mukuamu was once in the first round of my mock draft. He ended up in the fourth frame of my final mock draft because of some major injury problems. He continued to fall, but Dallas could be getting a talented starter if Mukuamu can recover.


238. Matt Farniok, G, Nebraska - B Grade
It's no surprise that the Cowboys addressed the offensive line once again, given what occurred last year. Matt Farniok never made my mock draft, but I like the upside because he's so athletic for his position.
 

GShock

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Walter Football Grades

NFL Draft Team Grade: C- Grade

Goals Entering the 2021 NFL Draft:
The Cowboys had an extremely weak defense last year, so they must fix every level of that unit. They must also address the offensive line, given their massive blocking issues in 2021. Some of that was due to injury, but it's not like Dallas can count on Tyron Smith staying healthy.

2021 NFL Draft Accomplishments: What a disaster! The Cowboys desperately wanted Patrick Surtain in the first round, yet the Broncos plucked him off the board one pick earlier. And if that wasn't enough, Dallas coveted both Trevon Moehrig and Jevon Holland in the second frame, but both were chosen before the team was put on the clock.

The Cowboys had to settle for Micah Parsons and Kelvin Joseph as a result. Both aren't ideal because they carry character concerns. They have nice potential, but their floor is quite low. They probably should have gone a bit lower than where the Cowboys drafted them.

I at least like that the Cowboys traded back once Surtain was off the board - screwing the Giants out of Devonta Smith in the process - but this was just an underwhelming draft class overall. It's a shame for Dallas because poor circumstances ruined its plans, but it's not like I can adjust my grade for that. Four of the Dallas' first five grades scored a "C" grade or worse, so the team grade must be in that area.




12. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State - C+ Grade
Charlie Campbell, who was 8-of-8 in his 2021 NFL Mock Draft, reported a few years ago that an NFL team removed Leighton Vander Esch from their draft board because of concerns regarding his neck injury. Now, we see why that team was so worried. Vander Esch hasn't been able to stay healthy, while Sean Lee just retired. The Cowboys needed a linebacker, and Micah Parsons is a mega talent. He has some glaring off-the-field concerns, however, so I can't grade this too favorably.


44. Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky - C- Grade
Ouch. The Cowboys really wanted Trevon Moehrig and Jevon Holland, yet both safeties were snatched off the board before their pick. The Cowboys had to settle for Kelvin Joseph, a raw cornerback with character concerns. Joseph belonged in the third or fourth round, so this was a reach. That said, Joseph could meet his upside and fill a big need.


75. Osa Odighizuwa, DE/DT, UCLA - B Grade
This is an upside pick for the Cowboys, as Osa Odighizuwa is a very athletic player who can get after the quarterback. The problem is that he's a tweener and a liability against the run. This selection has a low floor, but I like Dallas taking a chance with this selection.


84. Chauncey Golston, DE/DT, Iowa - C Grade
I mocked Chauncey Golston to the Cowboys, but in the fifth round. He's a high-motor, high-effort player, but he's not very talented. The Cowboys could have done better, but this isn't a terrible pick.


99. Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State - F Grade
Nahshon Wright is a tall cornerback (6-4), but that's all he has going for him. He's very thin and frail, and he'll be beaten up by tougher receivers. Wright is the first prospect chosen I never slotted in my mock draft, so I have to flunk the Cowboys for this pick.


115. Jabril Cox, LB, LSU - A+ Grade
Jabril Cox would have been chosen in the second round if he didn't have any injury issues. At this point in the draft, it's worth it to take that sort of risk. This is a steal for the Cowboys, who needed a second linebacker because of Leigthon Vander Esch's neck problems, which one team flagged him for prior to his draft.


138. Josh Ball, OT, Marshall - C- Grade
The Dallas offensive line was a huge problem last year, so it's not a surprise that the team addressed this area. It's a bit of a surprise that they took Josh Ball at this juncture because I had him in the seventh round, so I'm not a fan of this value.


179. Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford - A Grade
For the second year in a row, the Cowboys spent a great value pick on receiver without needing to address the position very much. Simi Fehoko was pegged in the fourth round, so this is a steal. Amari Cooper won't be around much longer, so Fehoko could start in the future.


192. Quinton Bohanna, NT, Kentucky - C+ Grade
The Cowboys struggled to stop the run last year - or do anything positive on defense - so Quinton Bohanna will help in that regard. I didn't think Bohanna would be drafted, but I don't hate this pick because he could address a big need.


227. Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina - A+ Grade
Here's another great value! Israel Mukuamu was once in the first round of my mock draft. He ended up in the fourth frame of my final mock draft because of some major injury problems. He continued to fall, but Dallas could be getting a talented starter if Mukuamu can recover.


238. Matt Farniok, G, Nebraska - B Grade
It's no surprise that the Cowboys addressed the offensive line once again, given what occurred last year. Matt Farniok never made my mock draft, but I like the upside because he's so athletic for his position.
This seems fair.
 

Genghis Khan

The worst version of myself
Joined
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Messages
37,486
Walter Football Grades

NFL Draft Team Grade: C- Grade

Goals Entering the 2021 NFL Draft:
The Cowboys had an extremely weak defense last year, so they must fix every level of that unit. They must also address the offensive line, given their massive blocking issues in 2021. Some of that was due to injury, but it's not like Dallas can count on Tyron Smith staying healthy.

2021 NFL Draft Accomplishments: What a disaster! The Cowboys desperately wanted Patrick Surtain in the first round, yet the Broncos plucked him off the board one pick earlier. And if that wasn't enough, Dallas coveted both Trevon Moehrig and Jevon Holland in the second frame, but both were chosen before the team was put on the clock.

The Cowboys had to settle for Micah Parsons and Kelvin Joseph as a result. Both aren't ideal because they carry character concerns. They have nice potential, but their floor is quite low. They probably should have gone a bit lower than where the Cowboys drafted them.

I at least like that the Cowboys traded back once Surtain was off the board - screwing the Giants out of Devonta Smith in the process - but this was just an underwhelming draft class overall. It's a shame for Dallas because poor circumstances ruined its plans, but it's not like I can adjust my grade for that. Four of the Dallas' first five grades scored a "C" grade or worse, so the team grade must be in that area.




12. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State - C+ Grade
Charlie Campbell, who was 8-of-8 in his 2021 NFL Mock Draft, reported a few years ago that an NFL team removed Leighton Vander Esch from their draft board because of concerns regarding his neck injury. Now, we see why that team was so worried. Vander Esch hasn't been able to stay healthy, while Sean Lee just retired. The Cowboys needed a linebacker, and Micah Parsons is a mega talent. He has some glaring off-the-field concerns, however, so I can't grade this too favorably.


44. Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky - C- Grade
Ouch. The Cowboys really wanted Trevon Moehrig and Jevon Holland, yet both safeties were snatched off the board before their pick. The Cowboys had to settle for Kelvin Joseph, a raw cornerback with character concerns. Joseph belonged in the third or fourth round, so this was a reach. That said, Joseph could meet his upside and fill a big need.


75. Osa Odighizuwa, DE/DT, UCLA - B Grade
This is an upside pick for the Cowboys, as Osa Odighizuwa is a very athletic player who can get after the quarterback. The problem is that he's a tweener and a liability against the run. This selection has a low floor, but I like Dallas taking a chance with this selection.


84. Chauncey Golston, DE/DT, Iowa - C Grade
I mocked Chauncey Golston to the Cowboys, but in the fifth round. He's a high-motor, high-effort player, but he's not very talented. The Cowboys could have done better, but this isn't a terrible pick.


99. Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State - F Grade
Nahshon Wright is a tall cornerback (6-4), but that's all he has going for him. He's very thin and frail, and he'll be beaten up by tougher receivers. Wright is the first prospect chosen I never slotted in my mock draft, so I have to flunk the Cowboys for this pick.


115. Jabril Cox, LB, LSU - A+ Grade
Jabril Cox would have been chosen in the second round if he didn't have any injury issues. At this point in the draft, it's worth it to take that sort of risk. This is a steal for the Cowboys, who needed a second linebacker because of Leigthon Vander Esch's neck problems, which one team flagged him for prior to his draft.


138. Josh Ball, OT, Marshall - C- Grade
The Dallas offensive line was a huge problem last year, so it's not a surprise that the team addressed this area. It's a bit of a surprise that they took Josh Ball at this juncture because I had him in the seventh round, so I'm not a fan of this value.


179. Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford - A Grade
For the second year in a row, the Cowboys spent a great value pick on receiver without needing to address the position very much. Simi Fehoko was pegged in the fourth round, so this is a steal. Amari Cooper won't be around much longer, so Fehoko could start in the future.


192. Quinton Bohanna, NT, Kentucky - C+ Grade
The Cowboys struggled to stop the run last year - or do anything positive on defense - so Quinton Bohanna will help in that regard. I didn't think Bohanna would be drafted, but I don't hate this pick because he could address a big need.


227. Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina - A+ Grade
Here's another great value! Israel Mukuamu was once in the first round of my mock draft. He ended up in the fourth frame of my final mock draft because of some major injury problems. He continued to fall, but Dallas could be getting a talented starter if Mukuamu can recover.


238. Matt Farniok, G, Nebraska - B Grade
It's no surprise that the Cowboys addressed the offensive line once again, given what occurred last year. Matt Farniok never made my mock draft, but I like the upside because he's so athletic for his position.

This is bullshit.
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,730
9) Dallas Cowboys

Grade: A-

Key Picks: Micah Parsons (LB, Penn State), Kelvin Joseph (CB, Kentucky), Osa Odighizuwa (DE, UCLA), Chauncey Golston (DE, Iowa), Nahshon Wright (CB, Oregon State), Jabrill Cox (LB, LSU)

Analysis: Traded down after missing out on top two cornerbacks and landed Parsons, maybe the draft’s best overall defensive prospect. Their first six picks were defense after setting a franchise record for most points allowed in 2020.

My initial reaction was B-. I think I will hang there. A- is way too high. Hell, I thought I was being a homer at B-.
 
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