Dallas Cowboys draft picks 2021: Round-by-round selections

Here is a 2021 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Dallas Cowboys:

Round 1 (No. 12 overall, from 49ers through Dolphins and Eagles) - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State: Dallas drops two spots after missing out on Jaycee Horn (Panthers) and Patrick Surtain II (Broncos) to add Parsons to what was the worst defense in franchise history in 2020. With Sean Lee retiring and former first-round LB Leighton Vander Esch possibly entering his final season with the team, Jerry Jones and Co. reload at linebacker – and Parsons might arguably be the most impactful defender in this draft. Draft tracker

Round 2 (44) - Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky: And Dallas begins repairing last year's sieve-like pass defense, Joseph now paired outside with 2020 second-rounder Trevon Diggs. Joseph's exceptional athleticism should serve him well as he adapts to the NFL. Draft tracker

Round 3 (75) - Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA: Could compete for a starting spot given state of Dallas' interior line. Odighizuwa notched 10½ sacks over his past three seasons and can get slippery in the gaps. Draft tracker

Round 3 (84, from Colts through Eagles) - Chauncey Golston, DE, Iowa: Dallas' defensive-themed draft continues with Golston, who had 27 TFLs over the past three seasons. Draft tracker

Round 3 (99, compensatory) - Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State: He picked off five passes over the past two seasons. He might need to add some weight to a 6-4, 183-pound frame, but his physique will clearly make him problematic as a defender once he proves he can hold up in the NFL physically. And don't forget what new Dallas DC Dan Quinn did in Seattle with similarly built Richard Sherman once upon a time. Draft tracker

Round 4 (115) - Jabril Cox, LB, LSU

Round 4 (138, compensatory) - Josh Ball, OT, Marshall

Round 5 (179, compensatory) - Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford

Round 6 (192, from Lions) - Quinton Bohanna, DT, Kentucky

Round 6 (227, compensatory) - Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina

Round 7 (238) - Matt Farniok, OG, Nebraska

Dallas Cowboys' last five top draft picks:

• 2020 (No. 17 overall): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

• 2019 (No. 58 overall): Trysten Hill, DT, Central Florida

• 2018 (No. 19 overall): Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

• 2017 (No. 28 overall): Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

• 2016 (No. 4 overall): Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

2021 NFL draft: Team-by-team picks

AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots

AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers

AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans

AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders

NFC East: Cowboys | Eagles | Giants | Washington

NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings

NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints

NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys picks in 2021 NFL draft: Round-by-round selections for Dallas