Dallas Cowboys start New Year with new defense in 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft

There will be calls for the Dallas Cowboys to add a safety much earlier than this but the fact is, this class isn’t exactly full of top-tier talent at the position. That’s why they went cornerback and defensive tackle with their first picks in this mock before finally adding Hamsah Nasirildeen out of Florida State with the first of their two picks in the third.

Nasirildeen had 192 tackles and three picks in 2018 and 2019, looking as though he would be a star. However, a torn ACL late in 2019 slowed him down. Still, he’s a physical stud at 6-4 and 215 pounds. He could work his way into the starting lineup opposite Donovan Wilson since he’s adept in deep coverage.

(Projected compensatory pick): As the season has moved along, Terence Steele and Brandon Knight have started to play better. For that reason, adding an offensive tackle doesn’t feel as desperate as it once did — especially with La’el Collins expected to be back at 100 percent when the season kicks off.

Even with the improved play of their current starters, Dallas needs to add depth and competition. They do that by taking Josh Ball here from Marshall. A left tackle for the Thundering Herd, Ball is huge at 6-8 and 350 pounds but still has decent athleticism. There could be a lot of upside here to work with.