With more pressing needs on offense at guard and wide receiver, and defensively at DE or LB, the Cowboys’ concerning lack of proven ability at safety has taken a backseat in this offseason’s roster build. With the expectation that new Passing Game Coordinator Kris Richard will elevate the play of the entire Cowboys’ secondary, the team is doing their due diligence on safeties available in the 2018 NFL Draft – starting with Texas’ DeShon Elliott.
With 63 tackles and six interceptions in his final season at Texas, Elliott took full advantage of being a starter in the Big 12 for the first time in his career, flying onto the NFL Draft scene.
Elliott is a well-balanced, average athlete with the upside to be targeted late in April’s draft and make a difference.
If they had to play a game tomorrow, the Cowboys would be rolling with Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods, and Kavon Frazier at safety.
Finding an expanded role this season for Frazier should be a priority in Dallas, as should supplementing Heath and Woods with additional talent. DeShon Elliott would fit this group well, along with the Cowboys’ scheme, given his range and disruptive ability.
Should Jourdan Lewis, Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown, and now Byron Jones help the Cowboys reach their full potential at CB, the Cowboys safeties will not be tested in single coverage up the field often. This is an area that Elliott was exploited in at Texas plenty of times, performing better as a true free safety or second-level player.
Continuing to add young talent at the right price is key to the Cowboys’ ongoing rebuild on defense, now visiting with a local safety prospect that should be available to them in the later rounds. Texas’ DeShon Elliott is officially a name to consider come draft week in Dallas.
