Dallas Cowboys revive defense, offensive line in 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft
By Randy Gurzi
UAB. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. EDGE. Jordan Smith. 4. 123
Earlier mock drafts had the Dallas Cowboys going for an edge rusher early on, but that might not be necessary anymore. While there’s no guarantee that they will be able to re-sign Aldon Smith, they do have Randy Gregory under contract and he was on fire at the end of the season. After a full offseason to get hit feet completely back under him, he should be ready for a full-time starting job in 2021.
Having said that, they will need some more depth, especially if Aldon Smith does head elsewhere. For that reason, they use their first of two picks in the fourth round on a pass rusher from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Jordan Smith.
A project player who has great physical gifts — including a 6-foot-6, 250-pound frame — and incredible speed, Smith could be a rotational rusher as a rookie with upside for more in the future.
Pick Analysis. LB. Georgia. player. 814. Scouting Report. Monty Rice. 4
Sean Lee might have played his final down with the Cowboys and Joe Thomas is set for free agency. Dallas needs to start getting younger at the position and they need players who can start to push their current linebackers since Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch have each trended in the wrong direction in the past couple of seasons.
Enter Monty Rice from Georgia, an instinctual linebacker who has a nose for the ball. His ability in run defense would be huge for the Cowboys since they were atrocious in stopping the run. Well, they were bad at everything, but their run defense needs help and Rice provides that.