Cowboys seven-round 2021 mock draft with compensatory picks

Now that we know the Cowboys compensatory picks, let’s mock.

By Terence Watson@Watson703 Mar 14, 2021, 1:00pm CDT

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The final unknown in for the 2021 Dallas Cowboys offseason has dropped, with the NFL’s compensatory picks now released. The Cowboys are one of the lucky teams that received four picks this year, with one of them being a top 100 selection. The team now has added firepower in their arsenal to do what they please in the draft whether it be moving up, down, or let things play out and take the best player available like they did last season.

We know the Cowboys have needs along the defensive line, safety, cornerback, and other needs dealing with depth. In the Dak Prescott press conference, Stephen Jones highlighted that the defense needs to be fixed to take advantage of the talent they have on offense. The Cowboys have created cap space for their draft picks and free-agent signings. But until free agency opens up we won’t know how the Cowboys decide to approach fixing the defense, so until then here is a mock draft that takes a shot at filling some of those holes.

This draft was completed with the ProFootballFocus mock draft simulator.

There has been a trade! The Miami Dolphins send the 18th and 36th pick to the Cowboys for the 10th pick in the draft.

With the 18th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Patrick Surtain II - Cornerback, Alabama

CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T - Ohio State v Alabama

Career Stats:

116 Total Tackles, Six tackles for loss, Four interceptions, 24 passes defended, and Four forced fumbles

Gambling Jerry Jones is back, taking a chance by trading down with the Miami Dolphins who selected cornerback Caleb Farley. The Cowboys got the 18th and 36th pick from the Dolphins and Jerry’s gamble pays off with Patrick Surtain II still on the board. If this actually happened, it would be a major coup, and PFF has quarterbacks and offensive linemen going off the board and dropping Surtain down. It can be debated who’s the best corner in the draft between Farley and Surtain II but the Cowboys get their man and reunite him with former teammate and last year's second-round pick Trevon Diggs. Surtain II is a physical corner and has the ability to lock up bigger receivers just like the Cowboys former cornerback Byron Jones did in the past.

The only knock on Surtain II would be his long speed after he was beaten deep for touchdowns and big gains last season.

PFF Trade Grade - B+

PFF Draft Grade - A

With the 36th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Richie Grant - Safety, UCF

Career Stats:

209 Total Tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, 17 passes defended, and Five forced fumbles

If you're looking for a versatile safety that can play both strong or free then Grant is your guy. Grant is better suited to fill the free safety position given his range and ball skills, a skill that the Cowboys somewhat lack currently with Donovan Wilson and free-agent-to-be Xavier Woods. Grant would be able to come in and fill an immediate need and give Quinn the deep middle of the field safety he’s used to having on his defenses.

PFF Draft Grade - B+

With the 44th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Jabril Cox - Linebacker, LSU

Career Stats:

258 Total Tackles, Six interceptions, 14 Sacks, and Five forced fumbles

The Cowboys could be losing a leader on defense in Sean Lee this offseason so they will need to make sure they find someone who can come in and fill his shoes. He’s also a linebacker that has the ability to cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. A skill that the current linebackers on the roster aren’t really solid at these days with Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith both either creating penalties or losing their man in coverage downfield. Cox gives the Cowboys more speed at the position, something that Quinn also covets.

PFF Draft Grade - C+

With the 75th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Thomas Graham Jr. - Cornerback, Oregon

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Career Stats:

183 Total Tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, Eight interceptions, 32 passes defended, and One forced fumbles

It never hurts to double down at a position of need, especially one that didn’t perform well last season. Graham Jr. is a cornerback with good instincts and a willing run defender when given the chance. He’s a smart cornerback that is able to recognize and react to plays as they develop. This is another solid pick for the Cowboys as PFF has him rated as the tenth best corner in this draft. Another win for the Cowboys and another building block for Quinn and this secondary.

PFF Draft Grade - B+

With the 99th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

James Hudson - Tackle, Cinncinati

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Husdon has everything you are looking for, he is strong, mean, and finishes his blocks. He began his career in Michigan then transferred to Cincinnati where he made a name for himself and popped up on NFL teams radars. Seen more as a right tackle than a left tackle, Hudson can develop into a player the Cowboy can use at guard since Hudson has a problem with faster defensive ends and outside linebackers. Many would agree that the quality of the play at left guard has been lacking and the Cowboys now have two tackles that they need to evaluate after playing the majority thanks to injuries to Tyrone Smith and La’el Collins.

PFF Draft Grade - B+

With the 115th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Bobby Brown III - Defensive Tackle, Texas A&M

Career Stats:

57 Total Tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, Six sacks

The Cowboys need to beef up the interior of their defensive line and Brown III fits the mold. Playing the one-tech with the Aggies, he’s seen his fair share of double teams and has success beating them to make a play. Brown III won’t give you much in the passing game but that’s fine, Quinn tends to rotate his defensive tackles to keep them fresh and put them in positions to win. A good spot for the Cowboys to find a run-stuffer.

With the 138th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Hunter Long - Tight End, Boston College

Career Stats:

89 receptions, 1,297 receiving yards, Nine touchdowns

The Cowboys have two tight ends that are very capable of making plays in the passing game with Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz both showing off their skills the last two seasons. They might lose third tight end Blake Bell in free agency and will look to replace him. Long could be that guy for the Cowboys, they need a strong tight end option that teams can’t identify as an automatic pass catcher. Most of the effective tight ends in the NFL can do both and Long is an effective blocker and he has hands too.

PFF Draft Grade - B+

With the 179th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Amari Rodgers - Wide Receiver, Clemson

Career Stats:

181 receptions, 2,144 receiving yards, 15 receiving touchdowns, 46 yards rushing, One rushing touchdown

The Cowboys will have a decision to make in 2022, do they keep Amari Cooper or Michael Gallup? They might not be able to keep both and still have money left over to continue building this team around Dak Prescott. This leads me to believe the Cowboys will draft a slot receiver and move CeeDee Lamb to the outside. That’s where Rodgers comes in to play, a speedy receiver that is physical taking on tacklers, a willing blocker, and dangerous running after to catch. Rodgers skill set would give the Cowboys another threat in the middle of the field and Prescott another toy to exploit defenses with.

PFF Draft Grade - B+

With the 194th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Tedarrell Slaton - Defensive Tackle, Florida

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 30 Vanderbilt at Florida

Career Stats:

99 Total Tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, One interception

For the second time in this draft, the Cowboys decide to double-dip at a position of need and take Slaton. One of the biggest defensive tackles in this year's draft coming in at 352 pounds, Slaton gives the Cowboys a second run-stuffing defender for Quinn to plug and play immediately. In Seattle, Quin had two big bodies in the middle of the defense to make sure defenses aren’t able to establish a running game and now adding Brown III and Slaton the Cowboys could be doing it in Dallas.

PFF Draft Grade - B+

With the 226th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Jack Anderson - Guard, Texas Tech

The Cowboys offensive line was horrible last season and when they get their full complement of starters back they will need to evaluate the left guard position. Anderson could be the answer to their problem, Anderson is a big-bodied guard with the ability to move defensive linemen in the running game as well as hold his own in pass protection. Connor Williams, while serviceable, has had problems for the Cowboys in pass protection and the Cowboys must take a shot and fix that problem.

PFF Draft Grade - C+

With the 236th pick in the NFL Draft the Dallas Cowboys select:

Sam Ehlinger - Quarterback, Texas

NCAA Football: Alamo Bowl-Texas vs Colorado

Career Stats:

923 Completions, 11,436 passing yards, 94 touchdowns, 27 interceptions, 1,903 yards rushing, 33 rushing touchdown

During his time in Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy had a knack for taking a quarterback in drafts and taking a shot with them. This season is no different and after Ben Dinucci’s performance last season in the one game he played, the Cowboys need to continue looking to draft a quarterback that can be developed behind Prescott and come in when needed. Ehlinger is a possibility if still there for the Cowboys and if he is they should take him. He looks like the prototypical west coast offense quarterback that McCarthy likes.

PFF Draft Grade - B-