Dallas Cowboys 2021 mock draft: Defense, defense, more defense

1. First round: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

With the fifth overall pick, the choice right here (at least right now) is really between Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and whichever of Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II or Caleb Farley you have atop your cornerback list.

There are no safeties at this point worth a top-five selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, so that need will have to wait until later.

A very strong argument could obviously be made for Parsons here with his range, three-down abilities, and tremendous attacking mentality. With that being said, the Cowboys might not have a shot at drafting a cornerback prospect of the caliber of Surtain or Farley if they get Dak Prescott back, and the chance to get a shut-down corner like that is something you can’t pass on.

Pairing him with his former Alabama teammate Trevon Diggs, Surtain would join a Cowboys secondary that will certainly have openings in the starting lineup with both Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis slated for free agency.

Surtain has tremendous man cover skills, ball skills, and refined technique at this point. He has four interceptions, 17 pass breakups, and four forced fumbles thus far in his time with the Crimson Tide. He can be a turnover creator for the Cowboys’ defense, something they desperately need.