Cowboys 2021 offseason hub Draft updates
The biggest week of the NFL calendar -- other than the Super Bowl -- has now come and gone. And as the Dallas Cowboys desperately try to work themselves back into The Big Game for the first time John Wangler Jersey since the 1995 season, they do so having made major changes on their coaching staff for the second consecutive offseason. They fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan after just one season with the club, replacing him with former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, who once led the famed Legion of Boom in Seattle and is looking to build the second coming in Dallas. In order to do that, the Cowboys are going to have to bend to his will in the 2021 NFL Draft.The question is, would they?There was an obvious love for tight end Kyle Pitts by owner Jerry Jones, but the needs on the defensive side of the ball are glaring to the point you can't look directly at them without risking blindne s. The Cowboys were not expected to trade up, and didn't, leaving the Atlanta Falcons in place to take him at No. 4. They went on to lose out on both Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain, II before trading back to acquire the No. 12 pick from the Philadelphia Eagles along with the 84th overall selection, and grabbing Penn State phenom Micah Parsons with their first-round pick.Things didn't get any le s spicy from there on Day 2 and Day 3, so take a look at the entire 2021 draft haul below as well as the list of undrafted free agent agreements; and scroll to the bottom of the hub for links to in-depth scouting reports on every single Cowboys draft pick from this year's crop. As Dallas gets ready to begin the Quinn era on defense, they've loaded him with intriguing talent, leaving nothing more to do now but get to work this summer to start their run at potentially reclaiming the NFC East.There's a ton to unpack from the Cowboys mercurial offseason, but it's all here for you. 2021 NFL DraftTop positional needs: CB, S, iDL, OT, LBThe Cowboys have six traditional draft picks -- non-compensatory -- in this year's draft, and it's key to remember compensatory picks can be traded away. This is a lot of draft capital for a team that desperately needs to rebuild its defense this offseason. as the Cowboys make their selections, this will be updated in real time.Round 1 - 12th overall: Micah Parsons, LB (Penn State)Round 2 - 44th overall: Kelvin Joseph, CB (Kentucky Chase Winovich Jersey )Round 3 - 75th overall: Osa Odighizuwa, EDGE (UCLA)Round 3 - 84th overall: Chauncey Gholson, EDGE (Iowa)Round 3 - 99th overall: Nahshon Wright, CB (Oregon State)Round 4 - 115th overall: Jabril Cox, LB (LSU)Round 4 - 138th overall: Josh Ball, OT, (Marshall)Round 5 - 179th overall: Simi Fehoko, WR (Stanford)Round 6 - 192nd overall: Quinton Bohanna, DL (Kentucky)Round 6 - 227th overall: Israel Mukuamu, S (South Carolina)Round 7 - 238th overall: Matt Farniok, G (Nebraska)Undrafted free agent signings/agreements:Brenden Knox, RB (Marshall)Osirus Mitchell, WR (Mi si sippi State)Tyler Coyle, LB (Purdue)Artayvious Lynn, TE ( Jake Rudock Jersey Texas Christian)Brandon Smith, WR (Iowa)JaQuan Hardy, RB (Tiffin)Anthony Hines III, LB (Texas A&M)Brennan Eagles, WR (Texas)TJ Vasher, WR (Texas Tech)Braylon Jones, OL (Houston)Nick Ralston, ATH (Louisiana)Austin Faoliu, DL (Oregon)Nick Eubanks, TE (Michigan) Key upcoming datesThere are a slew of dates you'll need to circle on your calendar as you keep track of the Cowboys this offseason -- such as OTAs, mini-camp and training camp. For now, most of them are already known and worth noting. It's also key to note things remain fluid during the coronavirus pandemic, because although the league hasn't yet made any changes to the 2021 draft or free agency, much like last year, those could arrive at a moment's notice.More dates will be added as the Cowboys and the NFL finalize them, and a suming no changes due to COVID-19.April 29-May 1: The takes place in ClevelandMay 12: The NFL will release the 2021 regular season schedule. Early May: Teams can hold their one three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through MondayMid-May: Teams permitted to hold one three-day rookie minicampLate May-early June: Beginning of organized team activities (OTAs)Mid-June: Mandatory minicamp beginsJuly 15: Deadline to negotiate a multiyear extension on a tagged playerLate July: Training campEarly August: Preseason begins with Cowboys vs. in Hall of Fame Game (Canton, Ohio)2020 Opt-out updates ,CB: Canady signed a one-year, GO BLUE Jersey $1.25 million deal with the Cowboys in 2020, but opted out due to concerns with the raging COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 season will act as a mulligan for that contract, and the Cowboys look forward to seeing if the 26-year-old can help with their i sues in the secondary. ,FB : Things aren't the same at the position as they were when he opted out, because has become a spicy addition to the roster. Considering how Olawale hasn't yet lived up to expectations, and with a notable drop or two on his rsum, he'll have to hit the ground running in a very real way in 2021. ,WR: The team will finally get a look at Guidry, who will still be a rookie in 2021 after having not played in what would've been his first profe sional season last year. The speedy receiver out of Mi si sippi State will finally get his first chance at catching pa ses from Prescott, an MSU legend. He joins a WR corps loaded with talent at spots one through four, contingent upon what happens with Cedrick Wilson in free agency.2021 opponents and previous-season recordNeedle s to say, the Cowboys better reboot as nothing short of contenders in 2021, because their schedule is a series of haymakers with little relief from what's coming. At first blush, it'll be all about taking care of home, and especially against teams they should be better than on paper. At full power, and a suming some type of improvement on defense, they should be able to overpower the , and ; and po sibly the as well, depending on if they get their hands on or not ( Jaaron Simmons Jersey which would make it a much more even bout). The toughest opponent outside of the division that's set to visit AT&T Stadium would be the and , conjuring flashbacks of the 2020 matchup between the two, and the usual NFC East suspects won't be an easy out, either. Home:Atlanta Falcons (4-12)Carolina Panthers (5-11)Las Vegas Raiders (8-8)Denver Broncos (5-11)Arizona Cardinals (8-8)New York Giants (6-10) (4-11)Washington Football Team (7-9)Stringing together wins at home is paramount when di secting what they're up against on the road, with matchups that include both teams from Super Bowl LV as well as the wily , a cerebral challenge in head coach Sean Payton even if Drew Brees