2021 NFL Draft: 4 Biggest surprises from Day 1

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CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 29: Micah Parsons poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell onstage after being selected 12th by the Dallas Cowboys during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2. Cowboys and Eagles Trade

Draft aficionados warned fans that this draft. It was not deep at the cornerback position in terms of the first-round talent availability. One thing the Cowboys needed more than anything was a corner. More often than not, draft experts mocked a corner to the Cowboys at No. 10. It was the sweet spot for either Jaycee Horn or Patrick Surtain II.

The Cowboys were in a great spot to take one of the two best corners in the draft — until they weren’t. Carolina Panthers set the tone by taking Jaycee Horn with the No. 8 pick, which was cool since Denver would probably take a quarterback. Well, that didn’t happen.

Instead, John Elway opted to sure up his secondary with Patrick Surtain II. In Bizzaro World fashion, the Cowboys traded down with the Eagles, giving their division rivals a shot at a wide receiver.

Let that sink in; two division rivals swapped picks. The Cowboys, in need of a corner, were so deadlocked on Surtain or Horn that they threw in the towel. The Eagles were so in love with the Heisman Trophy-winner DeVonta Smith that they did the unthinkable. In the end, the Cowboys got future picks and a top 10 prospect to replace Sean Lee in Micah Parsons.

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