The Dallas Cowboys have added pieces in free agency to upgrade their defensive line, linebacker, and safety positions. However, America’s Team has another area that needs to improve and that’s cornerback.
Re-signing Jourdan Lewis will give the Cowboys a playmaker at slot corner, however, there’s still a need at outside corner with the loss of Chidobe Awuzie in free agency to the Cincinnati Bengals. With the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft, the Cowboys will have a great opportunity to select a starting corner of the future opposite of their 2020 second-round pick Trevon Diggs. The led name connected to the Cowboys in that regard is an old teammate of Diggs, Alabama’s Patrick Surtain.
When asked about a possible reunion between the two on a video call on Monday, Surtain sees it as being like old times during their days in Tuscaloosa.
“Diggs, he’s my brother for life,” Surtain said. “Just lining up with him again, it would be a special feeling. It would be like college again, of course. We understand each other a lot, just going through our years through college. It’d just be like another day here in Alabama.”
When looking at his college career, it isn’t hard to see why the Cowboys would be intrigued at the chance to add Surtain to a defense that was one of the NFL’s worst in 2020.
At 6’2 and 208 pounds, he has the prototypical size to play cornerback in the pros. During his days at Alabama, he displayed excellent ball skills registering 24 pass breakups and four interceptions. He excels in man coverage and does a very good job of jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. Also, his speed and athleticism allow him to stay with big or speedy receivers.
Even with Surtain being the top-rated player at a key area of need for the Cowboys he hasn’t spoken with them at the moment.
“I haven’t talked to the Cowboys yet,” Surtain said. “I’m still in the process of talking to teams so I haven’t talked to them yet.”
That shouldn’t concern anyone that’s on the Surtain to Dallas hype train though, especially when listening to the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
I talk to Diggs a lot of the time,” Surtain told Michael Irvin on his PodcastOne podcast. “He’s been telling me they have a lot of interest in me.”
Diggs had high praise of his former teammate back in December.
“That’s my little brother,” Diggs said. “He’s a great person, great player, competitive. He has everything that you look for in a corner. I’m really excited for him and what his journey is, and hopefully, I don’t know, we’ll see. But I’m really excited for him and wherever he ends up and wherever his journey takes him. He’s a real good person, a real good player, so whoever gets him is really lucky.”
Diggs and Surtain spent two years together as teammates at Alabama, and in 2019, they showed their potential as a duo. While Diggs received First-Team All-SEC and Third-Team All-American honors, Surtain had arguably his best collegiate campaign. He registered 42 tackles, eight pass breakups, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
The Cowboys have other options at corner if Surtain is off the board by the 10th pick. Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley, albeit with his back issues, has been linked to the Cowboys in a few mock drafts. Also, South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn had an impressive Pro Day with the Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay and new Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn in attendance.
The options are there for the Cowboys at cornerback in the draft. Surtain may have the leg up with not only his skill set but his ties to the organization through playing with Diggs, but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be the pick at 10.
Only time will tell what route the Cowboys go to address the cornerback position in April.
