Cowboys Mock Draft Roundup: Trade down possibility, OT picked almost as often as Surtain

Team need and player value merge at the 10th overall pick, with the Cowboys getting the kind of physical outside corner they could have had in Jalen Ramsey a few years ago. Surtain is a technician who plays the ball as well as any corner I've seen over the past 20 years.

The “Jaycee Horn is CB1″ train adds new passengers every day. After his pro day performance, there’s no denying that Horn is a potential blue-chip prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. The South Carolina product put up one of the best Relative Athletic Scores ever at cornerback, registering a 9.99 overall. He logged a 4.4 40-yard dash, a 41.5-inch vertical, a 133-inch broad jump, and 19 bench reps with 33-inch arms. With an elite combination of athleticism, length, and competitive swagger, Horn looks like he could be the next lockdown cornerback. In need of talent all over their defense, the Cowboys would be unwise to pass him up here.

The Cowboys offense is loaded with talent, but the line needs work. Enter Slater, who is considered the best offensive tackle in the 2021 draft class. Solidifying the offensive line will be good news for Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and all the Dallas weapons.

Yeah, it's going to hurt if Surtain ends up going to the Broncos. I'd even investigate trading up if you really want to make sure you get him. You need defense. But if Surtain is off the board, I'd like to fix the next-biggest need for the team, and that's offensive line. Slater would be a fruitful infusion into a line (and particularly, a position) that was once one of the best in the NFL. And now it's ... not so much. The Cowboys are like Star Wars. Amazing in the 1970s, had a nice run in the '90s, but you've disappointed a lot of people recently. Still, there has been a comeback, thanks to things like The Mandalorian. Rebuilding your offensive line would be like that.

Projected press production on third downs drives this pick, which looks like one of the best fits for any selection in this first round. According to my model, Surtain is the corner with the highest ceiling.

Slater has the versatility to play any position on the O-line and will help strengthen a Cowboys front five that was decimated by injuries last season.

Surtain might never be a top-five corner in the league, but we feel he eventually will fall just below that mark at his peak and provide Dallas far better coverage in a shoddy secondary. There’s now a bit of a Bama-to-Dallas pipeline with Amari Cooper, Trevon Diggs and Saivion Smith.

Dallas has added players to the secondary but none are going to inspire fear. Patrick Surtain II is a really clean, technical prospect with NFL bloodlines. He brings a level of professionalism and consistency to a defense that has lacked it.

No. 13 - * Projected trade down with Los Angeles Chargers * The Cowboys gamble and it pays off with one of their Top-10 targets, Patrick Surtain II, sneaking through.

Moving down may be the best option, unless the Cowboys have someone fall in their lap that they just can't pass up on. In this scenario, that player would be Slater. While many believe he can play tackle in the NFL, I'm not so optimistic given his average size and arm length. Still, he's one of the most technically sound prospects in this class, as well as one of the top interior lineman I've evaluated since Zack Martin was coming out of Notre Dame. He could instantly upgrade the left guard position, making Connor Williams a possible trade candidate that could net Dallas another pick or a defender. I know how badly this defense needs to improve, but you just can't pass up on value like Slater would present.

As tempting as it might be to improve the offense, the Cowboys can’t afford to ignore their holes on defense. Help at all levels is needed, but the secondary is the most glaring spot after the loss of cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. Horn’s stock has risen considerably since the start of the 2020 season, with some even arguing for him to be the top cornerback in this class.

Corner is very clearly Dallas’ biggest team need, and Surtain is a total stud. In addition to being a sound, instinctive player with experience playing in the NCAA’s most complex defense, Surtain flashed 93rd percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism at his pro day (39-inch vertical at 6’2/208). Trevon Diggs and Surtain lock down this position for Jerry Jones long term.