Dallas Cowboys 7-round 2021 mock draft: Bolstering the secondary

Round 4

With the 115th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Victor Dimukeje. This pick may come as a surprise and maybe a little earlier than expected but with the edge players flying off the board I went for a player I think will be playing left defensive end behind Demarcus Lawerence. Victor is a strong athlete that just bullied offensive lineman in college.

At the next level, Dimukeje won’t be able to just run through offensive tackles and tight ends like he did in the early part of his college career. He has a strong lower frame and does a great job of rushing with technique. He does a good job rushing controlled and keeping contain. He needs to do a better job of developing explosion off his first step.

I think that Dimukeje will compete with last year’s draft pick, Bradlee Anae, and Dorance Armstrong. Dimukeje has all the tools to become a good pass rusher in the NFL, he just needs to work on his explosion off the line. He may need to become more flexible as he does stay engaged with blockers for longer than he should at the size he plays with. Overall, the Cowboys should be thrilled with this pick.

With the 138th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Dylan Moses. Cowboys fans may be wondering why linebacker is a pick with their starters as Neal, Vander Esch, and Smith. The reason this pick makes sense for this team is because of the switch in scheme. It will allow these linebackers to play free without thinking. The Moses pick is a pick where there is some risk with a potential of a big reward.

The Cowboys aren’t in desperate need of another linebacker but need to add more depth pieces to their team. There is a possibility that the Cowboys could have three new starters next year. Moses comes from Alabama, a pro-style defense where linebackers have to make reads and checks. Moses is a decorated player for the Crimson Tide who has the talent and the potential to be an NFL starter.

The concern around Moses and the reason he didn’t get drafted earlier is because of his red flags medically. He had a surgically repaired knee after he tore his ACL. If Moses can show he can stay healthy I think he can play special teams day one with the potential to see limited snaps at the Mike linebacker spot. This is a pick that the Cowboys can take a risk and hope for a big reward.

Round 5

With the 179th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Ambry Thomas. The Cowboys are adding another defensive back to the room with the selection of Thomas. Thomas was by far the highest-rated player on the board at the time and the Cowboys can never have enough cornerbacks.

The Cowboys add another physical corner who excels in press-man coverage with great athleticism. Thomas does a great job playing with his eyes and mirror receivers. At the next level, he will need to develop better technique. He was only a one-year starter at Michigan but has the attitude to compete on an island at the next level.

Expectations for Thomas won’t be extremely high like they will be for Surtain who the Cowboys drafted earlier in the first round. Thomas will come in as the Cowboys fourth or fifth corner, adding depth to cornerback as well as competing on special teams right away. He is a quick foot athlete that can move with smaller receivers. He will learn a lot from former Michigan corner who the Cowboys just extended in the offseason in Jourdan Lewis.