Dallas Cowboys land top-tier cornerback in 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
By Randy Gurzi
Crimson Tide . Alex Leatherwood. 2. player. 829. . OT
In 2011, the Dallas Cowboys drafted USC offensive tackle, Tyron Smith. It was the first of three offensive linemen selected in the first round during the Jason Garrett era and Smith also ushered in a new identity for Dallas. They were moving away from the team that tried to win with flash and instead became one that dominated physically in the trenches.
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Smith spent the next nine seasons as one of the best tackles in the game but he had started to gain a reputation for struggling with health. He missed three games in each season from 2016 through 2019 and that meant Dallas always had to overpay for a swing tackle – or they at least learned to after the debacle against Atlanta in 2017 when Chazz Green and Byron Bell surrendered six sacks in one game.
However, in 2020, things got worse for Smith. He played just two games all season and there are now doubts he will ever suit up for Dallas again. This selection is made with the belief that his days are done as the Cowboys land a potential replacement in Alex Leatherwood.
The Alabama product has first-round talent but like his former teammate Trevon Diggs, he slides into the second round and the Cowboys benefit from this. Some scouts believe Leatherwood might not be a great fit at left tackle at the next level but the truth is, he performed admirably in this role for the Tide while facing some elite pass rushers in the SEC. He also kept Jedrick Wills on the right side and we all saw Wills was able to handle the left for the Cleveland Browns.
Leatherwood will be given a shot to prove himself in Dallas and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him excel in the role and help solidify the Cowboys O-line.