Dallas Cowboys: A three-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 10: Penei Sewell
• Offensive Tackle, University of Oregon
• Height/Weight: 6-6, 325 lbs.
First impressions?
Ok, here we go. The Dallas Cowboys approach the great wall with a great fix early on. Left tackle Tyron Smith rode the injury bug train last season, so ushering in new blood to protect their quarterback investment is a must.
This time around, both cornerbacks Caleb Farley and Patrick Surtain II were out of the running. The cornerbacks went fourth overall (Farley to Falcons) and fifth overall (Surtain to Bengals). This allowed Sewell to drop to the Dallas Cowboys with the 10th overall pick.
Ideally, I’d vote for the defense at this spot. But with both cornerbacks out of the running, things changed course in this mock draft. Tight end Kyle Pitts was drafted by the Panthers here, so he was also out of the running.
Things will get really interesting if Sewell drops. The offensive tackle is regarded as a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. At Oregon, he started as a starter his freshman year in 2018. In 2019, he earned multiple awards including Outland Trophy, Morris Trophy, Unanimous All-America, and First-team All-Pac-12 (2019).
So, why did Penei Sewell drop?
After a strong 2019 campaign, Sewell opted not to play during the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He declared for the 2021 NFL Draft, which ended his career at the University of Oregon after two seasons as a starter.
Sewell is only 20 years old. His birthday is in October. So, he’s young. Regardless, Sewell won’t drop to the Cowboys at the 10th spot. I just don’t see it happening.
If both cornerbacks, Surtain and Farley, are out of the running, then Penei Sewell would be a difficult pass. The Cowboys need to plan for a replacement for left tackle Tyron Smith. With all the offensive power the Dallas Cowboys own, none of that matters if they can’t protect Prescott.
By stabilizing the offensive line, and renewing the commitment there, offensive stars such as wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and running back Ezekiel Elliott can only benefit. This all starts with protecting Dak Prescott’s blind spot. Enter Penei Sewell.