Dallas Cowboys draft grade after selecting CB Nahshon Wright No. 99 overall

With the fourth and final of their Day 2 draft picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys decide to double-dip at the cornerback position by selecting Oregon State CB Nahshon Wright with the 99th overall pick in the third-round.

Dane Brugler’s thoughts on Nahshon Wright…

A two-year starter at Oregon State, Wright lined up at field cornerback in defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar’s scheme. He had a winding journey between high school and Oregon State, but he made the most of his two seasons in Corvallis, landing a starting role and leading the team in interceptions both years. Wright isn’t a quick-twitch mover, but he stays light on his feet to slide, open and run downfield with receivers. Heis still relatively new to the cornerback position and it shows at times as he struggles to stay square or ahead of receivers. Overall, Wright is a long and lanky athlete who is still developing his instincts and technique, but his length and ball skills are interesting foundational traits for a classic press-man corner prospect.

99. Dallas Cowboys: D

The Dallas Cowboys decision to draft Nahshon Wright with the 99th overall pick in the third-round is a huge reach. Most draft analyst, including Dane Brugler, had Wright ranked as a late seventh-round pick or priority free agent. For the Cowboys to take him in the Top 100 is highly questionable.

There were several other higher ranked CB prospects still available the Cowboys could’ve drafted over Wright, which makes it difficult to give this selection anything more than a “D” draft grade and that’s probably being generous. This was a huge reach for a player who could have a hard time even making the 2021 roster.

Overall, it’s going to be really interesting to see how the Cowboys coaching staff plans to utilize Nahshon Wright and where he fits into the CB rotation. He looks like a developmental prospect at best, and as such, likely could’ve been drafted much later on Day 3 in rounds 4-7.