ESPN’s Kiper, McShay send Cowboys CB in 1st, DT, OT, Safety in 3-round combo mock

Jim Nevarez
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With just a little more than a week until the first night of the 2021 NFL draft, thousands of mock drafts dissecting players and their fits on potential teams have been penned. However, in regards to the Dallas Cowboys some mock drafts are more friendly than others. ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay recently released a three-round mock draft where they alternate selections, choosing players they feel would be the best fit.

Kiper and McShay’s selections for the Cowboys would be an ideal scenario, and while the un-predictability of the NFL draft could render even the best mock draft useless, it’s interesting to study what two of the top draft analysts feel would be the best fits for Dallas. The Cowboys have four selections in the first three-rounds of next weeks draft, with the selections being at number 10, 44, 75 and 99.

10. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

McShay gets the first selection for the Cowboys and with five quarterbacks and no defensive players selected in the top-ten, Dallas gets their choice of defenders. Surtain’s size (6-foot-2) and instincts would be a great fit in Dan Quinn’s scheme.

Dallas gets first pick of the defensive pool, and I’m reuniting Surtain with his former Alabama teammate Trevon Diggs in this CB room. Surtain is a true shutdown corner.

Surtain’s chances of being available here: 84.7%

44. Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

For the Cowboys second pick, McShay goes back to the Crimson Tide’s national championship defense.

Only three teams allowed five-plus yards per carry last year, and Dallas was among them. Barmore would help stop the bleeding in the middle of the defense.

Even though the 21 year-old is a bit raw, his power and energy make Barmore arguably the top defensive tackle in the class. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Barmore ranked as the 20th best player on his overall draft board. Barmore would likely start immediately for Dallas, giving them a respectable rotation that would include Trysten Hill, Neville Gallimore, Antwaun Woods and Brent Urban.

75. Walker Little, OT, Stanford

With the Cowboy’s first pick in the third-round, Mel Kiper takes the reigns adds some depth to the tackle position.

Offensive line is a sneaky need for the Cowboys, who had major injury issues last season. Little missed nearly all of 2019 with a knee injury and opted out of last season, but he has a first-round tool set.

With both Tyron Smith and La’el Collins missing most of last season, Dallas would be wise to draft a young potential tackle of the future. With the expected return of both Smith and Collins and the signing of Ty Nsekhe, the 6-foot-7, 313 pounder would not be forced into the lineup and would have time to develop some needed play-strength. However, if two of Dallas’ top tackles were to go down, Little would be a upgrade over Brandon Knight and/or Terrance Steele. Little would be a pick that would pay dividends in the future.

99. Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana

Stephen Jones spoke earlier in the week about the Cowboys potentially selecting a safety early in the draft if the right player was available, Mel Kiper believes Johnson could be that player

A safety helps fill all of the Cowboys’ most immediate needs, as we’ve also given them a corner, defensive tackle and offensive tackle. Johnson could challenge Donovan Wilson and free-agent signing Damontae Kazee for a starting job.

While Johnson is not the most physical player, his strengths are his range, awareness and ball skills. He would likely find playing time in a rotation with Kazee, until he gets more comfortable in the NFL. While Dallas fans would understandably like to see a safety selected higher than pick 99, Johnson is a good player who fits exactly what Dan Quinn values in a free safety.

With four picks in the first three rounds the Dallas Cowboys came away with a corner, defensive tackle, offensive tackle and a safety. Those are four positions of need for Dallas and they added three players that would compete for starting jobs immediately.

If next weeks draft plays out remotely close to this, the Cowboys would be ecstatic. Fans should keep their fingers crossed that Dallas is graced with a little luck from the draft gods.

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