With so many more areas of urgent need in next week’s draft, would the Dallas Cowboys spend one of their seven picks on a defensive back?
They just moved Markquese Bell back to safety from linebacker.
Even without Stephon Gilmore – assuming Trevon Diggs has fully recovered – they appear to be well stocked at cornerback too.
So I would be somewhat surprised to see the Cowboys take a defensive back this year.
Their seven picks should go toward two offensive linemen, a defensive lineman, a running back, a wide receiver, and a linebacker.
And, oh yes, drafting Dak Prescott’s replacement after he departs – the football gods willing — at the end of this year.
And, in case I haven’t made it clear yet: No tight ends!
So the answer to the question posed in the headline is: Yes, Dallas should steer clear of the defensive backs next week.
Watch, they’ll draft three just to spite me…
The Top Corners
Alabama’s Terrion Arnold will likely be the first cornerback off the board — and on Thursday at that.
He should easily make the transition to the pro game – as long as he doesn’t land on a defense that plays zone 100% of the time.
His strength is man-to-man coverage. His kryptonite is playing zone.
He is a physical defender and that sometimes leads to costly penalties.
But I can live or die with an aggressive cornerback. So can most NFL defensive coordinators.
Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell is a polar opposite to Arnold.
Mitchell thrives in zone coverage schemes. But he easily gets lost at sea in man coverage.
He does have potential to improve in that area, but experienced NFL receivers will eat him alive until he steps up his game.
Still, he’s probably a second rounder at worst.
Clemson’s Nate Wiggins is a speedy defensive back that excels in Cover-3 schemes. Like Mitchell, he has room for improvement.
But what he has shown so far indicates an unlimited ceiling for Wiggins in the NFL.
Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry – if your folks named you Ga’Quincy, you’d probably change your name too – will bring a lot of punch (sorry, couldn’t resist) to any NFL defense.
He’s physical, and deny receivers the ball quite a lot.
He gets a little handsy, which will bring the yellow laundry out, but that is something that will improve in the NFL.
The Top Safeties
Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin is an effective run-stopper who can also excel in pass coverage. His lone weakness is his lack of speed.
He’ll struggle against faster receivers, especially once they turn up the field on him.
Georgia’s Javon Bullard is solid in pass coverage. But his tackling is something of a liability.
He also comes into the NFL with a history of off-field issues and injuries.
He has the upside for most teams to overlook that. But it is of concern.
Miami’s Kamren Kinchens is a playmaker, and a ballhawk. He can read the offense and adjust quickly.
But he isn’t a speedster. His 4.65 at the Combine drew more red flags than a season of NASCAR races.
The One DB Dallas Should Take
If the Cowboys do draft a defensive back, it would likely be a safety. And if they are so inclined, I’m looking at a third round pick of Oregon State’s Kitan Oladapo.
Before you say:
…let me explain.
His parents are from Nigeria and he had never played football until junior high school. He didn’t switch to playing safety until he got to college.
He comes to the NFL as a solid run-stopping safety – an area of need for Dallas – but needs to improve on his pass coverage.
Frankly, I’ll take that liability with Diggs and DaRon Bland roaming around in the backfield.
But for someone with less than a decade of familiarity with the game – and even less at the position he plays — he has tremendous upside.
Especially for the Cowboys.