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2021 NFL Draft grades for every team: Browns and Bears crush it, Cowboys flop

By Cody Williams

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Mya Tomoto stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after announcing Greg Newsome II as the 26th pick by the Cleveland Browns 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)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Mya Tomoto stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after announcing Greg Newsome II as the 26th pick by the Cleveland Browns 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) /
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2021 NFL Draft grades
Dallas Cowboys, Micah Parsons, 2021 NFL Draft. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys 2021 NFL Draft Grade: D+

  • Round 1, Pick 12: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
  • Round 2, Pick 44: Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky
  • Round 3, Pick 75: Osa Odighizuwa, IDL, UCLA
  • Round 3, Pick 84: Chauncey Golston, EDGE, Iowa
  • Round 3, Pick 99: Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State
  • Round 4, Pick 115: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
  • Round 4, Pick 138: Josh Ball, OT, Marshall
  • Round 5, Pick 179: Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford
  • Round 6, Pick 192: Quinton Bohanna, IDL, Kentucky
  • Round 6, Pick 227: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
  • Round 7, Pick 238: Matt Farniok, IOL, Nebraska

It was incredibly and unfortunately obvious that the Dallas Cowboys didn’t consider the notion of Patrick Surtain II or Jaycee Horn not making it to the No. 10 pick. Because when both corners went off the board, they panicked, traded down to No. 12 with the Eagles and then took a linebacker, which was hardly their biggest need.

There is some nice value with Jabril Cox, Simi Fehoko and Israel Mukuamu late in the draft but, otherwise, the Cowboys reached on nearly every one of their early picks outside of Parsons who didn’t match an immediate need. Throw in taking several guys with character concerns and a cornerback in Kelvin Joseph who doesn’t look ready to start Week 1 and this was a flop by Dallas.

Denver Broncos 2021 NFL Draft Grade: B

  • Round 1, Pick 9: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
  • Round 2, Pick 35: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
  • Round 3, Pick 98: Quinn Meinerz, IOL, Wisconsin-Whitewater
  • Round 3, Pick 105: Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
  • Round 5, Pick 152: Caden Sterns, S, Texas
  • Round 5, Pick 164: Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana
  • Round 6, Pick 219: Seth Williams, WR, Auburn
  • Round 7, Pick 237: Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU
  • Round 7, Pick 239: Jonathon Cooper, EDGE, Ohio State
  • Round 7, Pick 253: Marquiss Spencer, DL, Mississippi State

There are some people losing their minds over how good the Broncos draft class is and, to be sure, the collection of talent they acquired should be lauded. They got the top cornerback in the class, one of the three top running backs, steals with Quinn Meinerz and Baron Browning and found some nice value swings late.

But while that’s all true, I’m not sure how much better this draft class actually makes Denver right now with a roster that seems like it could win a Super Bowl if they upgraded at quarterback. So not taking Justin Fields weighs heavily into this grade. That said, if they pull off a trade for Aaron Rodgers, maybe that changes the opinion in the end.

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