Dallas Cowboys improve defense in seven-round 2021 NFL mock draft
By David Glancy
2021 NFL mock draft: Round 3, 74th overall
Offensive Tackle. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Clemson. Jackson Carman. 3. player. 879
Tyron Smith had appeared in seven consecutive Pro Bowls at left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys but missed fourteen games after undergoing neck surgery last fall. While the Cowboys have consistently produced one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, Dallas will look to add depth and build for the future during the 2021 NFL Draft.
Smith will still be just 30 years old entering the 2021 season but carries a high cap hit at approximately $15 million over the final three years of his contract. It looks like he will return to Dallas but given the severity of his injury, the Cowboys may look to solidify their line given the potential for early retirement.
Jackson Carman has served as Trevor Lawrence’s left tackle for the past two seasons in one of college football’s most prolific offenses. Carman has been a lynchpin in a great offensive line and has been incredibly consistent in both the run and pass protection. While Carman projects to make more of an immediate impact in the interior line, he will have time to transition to left tackle after Smith’s return.
2021 NFL mock draft: Round 3, 99th overall
Defensive Back. Ohio State. player. 812. Scouting Report. Shaun Wade. 4. Pick Analysis
Shaun Wade returned to Ohio State last winter, turning down an early exit to the NFL in hopes of becoming a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Wade made an immediate impact as a freshman in one of the nation’s top secondaries, leading the Buckeyes in interceptions but had his freshman year cut short due to injury.
After playing the nickel corner position alongside 2020 first-round picks Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette, Wade transitioned to an outside corner role this fall to mixed results. Wade struggled early at the line of scrimmage against Penn State and often looks lost against NFL level talent.
While it is unlikely a franchise drafts Wade as a corner to leave on an island, he still provides great value at the NFL. Wade is arguably the top nickel corner in the 2021 draft class and provides flexibility at both corner and strong safety. Wade could go earlier with a strong combine but falls to Dallas as another flexible defender in Quinn’s new defense.
2021 NFL mock draft: Round 4, 113th overall
Penn State. player. Scouting Report. Shaka Toney. 5. 806. Pick Analysis. EDGE
With their fifth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cowboys add highly productive Penn State defensive end Shaka Toney. Opposite Yetur Gross-Matos and Jayson Oweh, Toney has been the unsung hero of Penn State’s defensive line the last four years but ranks tenth all-time in program history with 20 sacks. As a fourth-rounder, Toney lacks all the required attributes to be a top-level pass rusher but would be an immediate impact player for the Cowboys.
After missing the prior four seasons due to suspension, Aldon Smith returned to the NFL last fall and produced a tremendous season given his time away. However, at 31 and only one a one year deal, he is unlikely to be in the Cowboys’ long-term future. The Cowboys need weapons opposite Demarcus Lawrence and Toney could be the best fit in the 2021 class.
Toney has continued to increase his weight across his five years in State College and saw continued improvement with the Nittany Lions. Despite the shortened Big Ten season, Toney produced 5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss and continues to be explosive at the snap. Toney is will need to add additional weight as an NFL end but would serve Dallas as an immediate pass rusher.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: Round 4, 138th overall
Texas AM. player. 873. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 6. Quarterback. Kellen Mond
With a total of ten picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, including six picks through the first four rounds, it is likely Dallas drafts another quarterback to provide depth behind Prescott. After rotating through Andy Dalton, Garrett Gilbert, and Ben DiNucci, the Dallas Cowboys will prioritize drafting a backup quarterback at some point this spring.
After drafting Prescott with the 135th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft, the Cowboys look no further than College Station in drafting Prescott’s backup. While Kellen Mond may not have ultimately lived up to his high prospect ranking and the expectations at Texas A&M, the four-year starting quarterback looks to be an ideal addition for the Cowboys.
Mond has continued to improve each of his four years with the Aggies, increasing both his downfield throws and accuracy. Mond is effective in moving the ball in moderate length passes and possesses strong arm strength. He is not an elite athlete by any means but brings a level of versatility to his game as a runner when needed. While he has struggled to find consistency at times, he fits the profile of Prescott’s understudy and can make the required plays when needed as a long-term backup.