Cowboys: 2021 NFL Draft primer as excitement surrounds Dak Prescott
Cowboys top targets in 2021 NFL Draft
Patrick Surtain II, Cornerback, Alabama
Is this the best fit in the world? No. It is widely expected that the Cowboys will be playing plenty of zone coverage this year with Dan Quinn taking over. However, Quinn does not stay in zone coverage all game long. He will switch it up to man when necessary. Enter Patrick Surtain II, an elite cornerback prospect who excels in man coverage, but is also no slouch in zone coverage. Dallas may be looking to switch to man coverage when playing against elite quarterbacks who can find the holes in the zone. That is when Surtain will shine.
Rashawn Slater, IOL, Northwestern
The opportunity with Slater is two-fold for Dallas. Drafting Slater allows the Cowboys to fill a hole on the interior for 2021 and then transition him to tackle to replace former All-Pro Tyron Smith as he continues to age and break down physically. Slater is one the best offensive line prospects in this class and allows the Cowboys to continue to invest in the offense and protect the investment they made in Prescott. This draft class is weak defensively and Dallas should be looking to draft the best player available at pick number ten.
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Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Michigan’s Kwity Paye might be the best possible fit for the Dallas defense. His role as a “big end” would be clearly defined as the “Michael Bennett or Cliff Avril” role. Paye is a large and explosive athlete who provides a nice upside as an edge rusher who can occasionally slide inside on passing downs. The big concern with Paye is going to be production. He did not produce “top ten numbers” in Ann Arbour.