ESPN analyst gives Cowboys’ 2021 draft a “D” grade

D was definitely the mantra for the Dallas Cowboys during last week’s draft. The team selected six straight defensive players for the first time since 1967, which quite frankly didn’t come as much of a surprise considering its bottom-seeded showing during 2020.

Defensive help was undoubtedly of the utmost importance heading into the selection process, and the ‘Boys would’ve been dead ducks had they not placed a desperate urgency on efforts to defend their end zone. They did just that, enlisting defensive aid at every level by taking two linemen, two linebackers and two defensive backs apiece with their first six picks.

Micah Parsons was the first name to come off the board for the Silver & Blue after they traded back to draft him, and he headlined a slew of young guns who will be counted upon to make significant contributions almost immediately upon their touch down in D-Town.

Jerry Jones, Mike McCarthy and his staff hope that Parsons and his fellow rookies will be the flare that kickstarts an impactful change on D, and based on the depletion the unit suffered last year, the fledgling freshmen will be given tremendous opportunity to do so.

And countless football experts seem to think they have the talent and wherewithal to make it happen. But while a large portion of those in and around the game approved of the men Dallas employed to assist their resurgent efforts, some thought their decision-making throughout the three-day frenzy couldn’t have been much worse.

In fact, one ESPN analyst thought the team’s draft was one of THE worst league-wide.

In his post draft evaluations, draft expert Matt Miller concluded that the Cowboys’ overall performance was just above complete failure.

“I did not like it. I gave them a D. I thought they reached for Odighizwua and Golston. Nahson Wright I had ranked 315th overall — they drafted him at 99. Maybe my board is way way off, but it felt like a big reach for me as they tried to find scheme fits.”

Mel Kiper Jr. though, had a different perspective in response:

“I gave them a B. I like some of the players they drafted. Parsons and Jabril Cox are two linebackers that make plays. Kelvin Joseph was a guy I liked all along through the draft process.

Chauncey Golston is a real good leader, and then Semi Fehoko had a heck of a two years at Stanford — big guy and ran well. They got him down the line further than you thought. So I think Dallas added some good players overall.”

Well, the timeless mantra that surrounds Dallas remains unchanged: no two opinions about this franchise will ever be the exact same.

But what say you? How would you grade this year’s draft?