Dallas Cowboys: 2021 NFL Draft redo shifts focus, gets it right
By Randy Gurzi
The Dallas Cowboys seemed to panic in the 2021 NFL Draft and the whole weekend was haphazard. Here, we try and clean things up for them with this redo.
It’s safe to say that Dallas Cowboys fans were less than thrilled with the way the 2021 NFL Draft unfolded for their team. Not only did those fans have to sit idly by and watch as Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain went earlier than expected, but then they saw something strange and unusual happen — they saw the Cowboys help a rival.
With both corners off the board, Dallas panicked and traded back with the Philadelphia Eagles — something that’s incredibly rare as only teams such as the Cowboys seem willing to give their biggest rivals a better draft pick.
They then spent a premium selection on a linebacker, which is arguably the least important position on defense. They also continued to ignore safety, which is one of the more important positions considering this is a pass-happy NFL.
In the end, the draft felt like it was unorganized and full of one reach after another. With the benefits of hindsight, we offer up a 2021 NFL Draft redo for the Dallas Cowboys, starting at No. 12.
Round 1, Pick 12: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Actual pick: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
While I personally wouldn’t trade with a divisional rival, Dallas did make out in the deal as they added a top-100 pick and saw a wide receiver and a quarterback go off the board. Of course, they would have been much better off had they traded with Chicago and secured a first-round pick in 2022, but that’s not the route they went.
Instead, they moved to No. 12 and took Micah Parsons from Penn State. Now Parsons will likely be a great player but the Cowboys just drafted a linebacker at No. 18 in 2018 and took Jaylon Smith at 34 in 2016.
Using those early picks on linebackers has yet to pay off, so this decision to go elsewhere is more of an indictment of the position than the player. Here, we instead elect to take Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater.
Not only is he the No. 1 player on the board but Dallas was abysmal on the line in 2020 due to injuries. Sure, they expect to be better now but left tackle Tyron Smith has battled health concerns for five years. It’s time to look toward the future.
Additionally, Slater is a player who can move around the line and play tackle, guard, or center. So even if Smith defied the odds and stayed healthy, there would be a spot for him to play as he waited to take over the blindside one day.
They just invested $160 million in Dak Prescott and it won’t mean a thing if he’s still running for his life on his surgically repaired ankle.