Cowboys 2021 NFL Draft grades: Dallas missed the mark too often

Round 2, Pick 44: Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky

At first glance, this one felt like a reach. Kelvin Joseph was a name that was thrown around as a potential day two pick but 44 seemed high. But when watching some of his film, it’s easy to see why the coaching staff wanted him.

Joseph has good size and length and while he got himself in trouble at LSU, he was able to keep that in the past and stayed clean in Kentucky. He had 25 tackles and four interceptions (yes, defensive backs are allowed to catch the ball) in 2020 but is raw.

So far, Joseph has just 15 games under his belt so we all need to be patient with him. Yes, it would have been nice to have a more pro-ready player but Joseph should develop into a starter and that’s what they needed.

Grade: B-

Round 3, Pick 75: Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA

Back on the clock at No. 75, the Cowboys made a surprise pick when they took UCLA defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa. He fills a need since they lost Tyrone Crawford but with them using a third-round pick on Neville Gallimore in 2020 and a second-round pick on Trysten Hill in 2019, it seemed as though they should have gone elsewhere.

In fact, they probably should have gone safety — but since they supposedly hate that position — they went with Odighizuwa. The problem is, they likely could have gotten him with their next pick and still took a safety which is their biggest need — and apparently always will be.

Grade: C+

Round 3, Pick 84: Chauncey Golston, EDGE, Iowa

Chauncey Golston seems like a player who fans will end up liking a lot. The problem is, the was far too early for him which was the theme of the draft apparently. He can play on the outside as well as inside as a three-tech. He had 45 tackles with 5.5 sacks last season for the Hawkeyes.

Grade: C-