The 2020-21 NFL regular season is over for the Dallas Cowboys and, well let's just say it did not go as planned for the boys wearing the star.
After starting the year on an absolute tear offensively, Dak Prescott's injury, combined with a multitude of other problems, effectively doomed the Cowboys. Andy Dalton just couldn't cover that drop off and the Cowboys finished the year 6-10 and are drafting the highest since they took Ezekiel Elliot at number four in 2016.
Dallas has a lot of problems that they can address with the 10th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, but the positioning of the pick puts them in a position to address some of the glaring holes on defense.
Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Whether Farley is available at No.10 is yet to be known, but if he is, the Cowboys would be hard-pressed to find a better option. Farley is the best overall cornerback in the draft. At six-foot-two, 200 pounds, he is a large
corner, but he has the athleticism and skill set to keep up with smaller, quick twitch wideouts.
A quarterback in high school, Farley blossomed as a corner at Virginia Tech. There is a lack of current film on Farley seeing that he opted out of the 2020 college football season, but his dominance as a redshirt freshman and sophomore was more than enough to get him a high projection on draft boards.
Even with his large stature, Farley is rarely the guy that gets out-raced. He is always right on his man in coverage, rarely falling behind by more than a step or two.
His best trait might just be his explosiveness. Farley’s ability to change directions on a dime is second to none and he is fluid in his movements in coverage. He has the size to cover just about any wideout and his speed and athleticism could also be dangerous in a corner blitz call.
If he is available at 10, Cowboys fans should riot if Dallas skips on him.
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Not to be outdone, Patrick Surtain II is a top-level corner with NFL pedigree. Former teammate of current Cowboy Trevon Diggs, Surtain was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and while he has had to make a lot of progress for the Crimson Tide, there is not many better corners in this year’s draft.
At six-foot two, 200 pounds, he is just as big as the aforementioned Farley. Surtain excels in press coverage and would be best suited for a defense that would allow him to pick a wideout and shut him down all game. He is an intelligent player and has a knack for knowing when to use his hands.
Scouts also note his ability to attack the ball at the catch point, meaning he is always getting his hands on the ball. This forces receivers to make catches through his defense. Surtain is natural when attacking the ball in the air.
The one area Farley may have him beat is downfield. Surtain has been hurt on deep throws as he is not as quick as Farley.
Other prospects
While the Cowboys’ most glaring holes remain in the secondary, at No. 10, the only secondary players worth taking that high have been mentioned. Linemen Wyatt Davis (Ohio State) and Rashawn Slater (Northwestern) could both bolster a weakened Cowboy o-line, but I could see Dallas trading back to grab Oregon safety Jevon Holland if neither Surtain or Farley are available.
While not spectacular, Holland will be a safe and solid pick for any team in the secondary. He can play both the pass and the run and would be an immediate upgrade over Xavier Woods in the Dallas secondary. The emergence of Donovan Wilson helps the Cowboys in the secondary and adding someone alongside him would go a long way. Holland could fit that role.
If we didn’t say what you want at No.10, let us know in the comments below and we will talk about it. The NFL draft will be held from April 19 to May 1 in Cleveland.