Matt Miller, a longtime Staff Writer and Draft Analyst for the Bleacher Report, decided to invest in himself and created his own website (thedraftscout.com) where he now publishes all of his NFL draft content. He recently released his first 2021 7-round NFL mock draft and as a subscriber I have the pleasure of sharing with you who he selected for the Dallas Cowboys.
Before we get to Miller’s picks for the Cowboys you probably need to know the criteria for which he based his selections.
Matt Miller’s mock draft rules:
- No trades
- No compensatory picks until they’re all announced by the NFL.
- Team needs are pre-free agency, which means some top tier needs will be met by re-signing current players.
- This mock is based on what he’s hearing, not what he would do.
Now that all of that is settled let’s take a look at who Matt Miller selected for the Dallas Cowboys. For an added bonus I included who I would have selected for the Cowboys based on the players still available in each round as well.
Let’s get started, shall we!?
Round 1, Pick 10 – Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Rashawn Slater is a blue-chip player with the versatility to play any position on the offensive line and someone who could replace Tyron Smith immediately with the Dallas Cowboys if needed. Matt Miller did bypass CB Patrick Surtain II and QB Trey Lance in favor of Slater and I think I’d have to agree with him. I believe Slater is the safest pick of the three and someone who’s versatility/talent can be utilized in a number of different ways.
My pick: Same
Round 2, Pick 44 – Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington
Levi Onwuzurike is another versatile player with position flex who could help upgrade the Dallas Cowboys defensive line. He’s capable of playing the 1 and 3-technique, although he’s probably best suited for the latter due to his size (6’3″, 290). Personally, I like Christian Barmore better – he went two picks later – or one of the top CBs still available here in the second-round for the Cowboys. Onwuzurike makes a lot of sense though and he does fill a need.
My pick: Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
Round 3, Pick 75 – Shakur Brown, Michigan State
This is the first head scratcher from Matt Miller’s picks for the Dallas Cowboys. Shakur Brown is no doubt a talented player who’s just started to scratch the surface of his talent, but I don’t think he’s what the Cowboys are looking for in a CB right now. I think Brown is at his best in the slot where the Cowboys already have Anthony Brown. I’d personally have gone with CB Ifeatu Melifonwu here. He fits Dan Quinn’s mold better (6’3″, 212) for his outside, press man CBs.
My pick: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
Round 4, Pick 106 – Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
Quincy Roche is viewed as a mid to late second-round pick by many, so to get him in the fourth-round would be a steal for the Dallas Cowboys. However, I think he may be better suited as an OLB in a 3-4 scheme rather than a DE in Dallas’ 4-3. His value and upside though is probably worth gambling a little bit on to see how he fits the scheme. He would provide much-needed depth behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory.
My pick: Caden Sterns, S, Texas
Round 6, Pick 168 – Monty Rice, LB, Georgia
Matt Miller probably would’ve liked to draft a LB earlier than this for the Cowboys, but that’s just not the way things fell. Monty Rice is a solid prospect, but one with very little upside in my opinion. I don’t think he’s anything more than a career backup and special teams player, which is not bad for a sixth-round pick. I’d personally go with Garrett Wallow here instead, a converted safety who I believe has starting potential at WILL LB in a 4-3 defensive scheme.
My pick: Garrett Wallow, LB, TCU
Round 7, Pick 202 – Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
I personally think Dazz Newsome is close to being a Top 100 pick, so for him to still be available for the Cowboys in the seventh-round would be absolutely amazing. He’d likely have a minimal role as a rookie considering Dallas’ WR depth, but could become a key offensive weapon in Year 2 with Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson potentially leaving via free agency after the 2021 season. In the meantime he would provide much-needed depth and special teams value in the return game.
My pick: Same
