Retro Grade: Cowboys 2021 draft class, three years later

[DrRage]

With the 2024 draft now in the rearview mirror, grades are being handed out left and right. Snap judgements, and not talking about who is going to play how much, are the current currency, but the rule of thumb for grading a team’s draft class hovers around the three-year mark. With the anniversary of the Cowboys 2021 class upon us, taking a stroll down memory lane to determine the outcome shows brilliant strategy and cringeworthy statements. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy ended his first season in Dallas with a 6-10 record. He had to navigate his team through the COVID-19 epidemic along with an injury-riddled team. That earned Dallas the No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The Cowboys entered the annual event needing a cornerback and many draft pundits believed Dallas had their eyes set on cover guys Patrick Surtain Jr. out of Alabama and South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn. With both off the board when their turn came around, the team traded back two spots with Chicago, picking up an extra third-rounder in the process. Philadelphia moved up into Dallas’ spot and picked Alabama wideout Devonta Smith. The New York Giants, who were targeting Smith, bailed on the No. 11 pick, allowing Chicago to move up to select QB Justin Fields, who was just traded to Pittsburgh for a ham sandwich and a Fanta. Dallas then took Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons with the 12th overall pick kicking off their class.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/lists/ ... dow-draft/