Dallas Cowboys: Top 5 potential first-round draft picks in 2021
By Connor Green
4. Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State
The Dallas Cowboys probably played their way out of being able to get Oregon’s offensive lineman Penei Sewell. Sewell is considered by most analysts to be the top offensive lineman in the upcoming draft class. However, Dallas may be able to realistically target the player who many experts are rating as the second-best offensive lineman in this draft class, Wyatt Davis.
The Cowboy’s offensive line has long been the backbone of America’s Team. Even as recently as 2019 the team finished the year giving up only 23 sacks, one of the fewest in the league. However, a combination of injuries and the surprise retirement of Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick this past offseason has left the unit more vulnerable than it has been in nearly a decade.
This year the unit gave up a jaw-dropping 44 sacks and became one of the teams’ biggest liabilities. Part of the units’ struggles was certainly a result of injuries to several of the teams’ prominent offensive lineman. The organization suffered through season-ending injuries to both of its starting tackles, Tyron Smith and La’el Collins, and was also forced to finish the year without their Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin.
Dallas attempted to fill the void left by Frederick during last years’ draft when they used their fourth-round pick to select center Tyler Biadasz. The 23-year old only started four games during his rookie campaign before he was shut down due to a hamstring injury. However, he showed some promise during his short time on the field and should be a part of the teams’ plans moving forward.
The organization should see a considerable improvement along its o-line with the return of several of its prominent starters. However, the team has been desperately searching for a guard to play opposite of Martin. The team has tried starting both Connor Williams and Connor McGovern, but both have struggled at the position (though Williams has been the better of the two).
The selection of Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis would both provide the team with sorely needed depth and allow for them to potentially finally find someone to play opposite of Martin. Davis was named as a 2019 Consensus All-American and has been a key part of the Buckeyes run to the national championship this year.
The Dallas Cowboys offensive line has been the backbone of the team for much of the past decade. The 315-pound lineman would be a dependable addition to the teams’ offensive line. Maybe the selection of Davis could help America’s Team right the ship for this critical unit.