Dallas Cowboys defensive secondary draft picks: Player comparisons

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Oct 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Chidobe Awuzie (4) during a NCAA football game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Colorado 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2nd Round – Chidobe Awuzie, Defensive Back, Colorado

Player Comparisons:

Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara (source: NFL.com)

Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell (source: ProFootballFocus.com)

Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (source: MileHighReport.com)

Despite Awuzie initially being projected as a cornerback going into the draft, there is a chance the Cowboys could move him to safety due to his versatility and the thin depth at the position. For this section, we’ll assume the team keeps him at the cornerback position.

Amukamara never developed into a star cornerback after being selected in the first round, but according to ProFootballFocus he has played better than Carr each year from 2012 to 2016. Maxwell has moved around several teams in the past few years but performed at a high level in 2016 (six total turnovers, 11th at cornerback per ProFootballFocus). Slay has been a major contributor in the Lions’ secondary since joining the league. His contributions led to the team offering him a 4-year, $50 million contract extension in 2016.

Key Takeaway: Awuzie is projected to become a better starter than Carr was during his time in Dallas. While he’s not expected to become a star shut-down corner, he should provide immense value. This is especially true if he can contribute at multiple positions as advertised.

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