Dallas Cowboys nab top defensive player in new mock draft
By Connor Green
Round 1, pick 31: Caleb Farley, CB- Virginia Tech (via trade)
The Dallas Cowboys secondary was one of only seven that allowed opposing passers to throw for a passer rating of 100 or better last season. The team has struggled in this unit for years and has done relatively little to address this concern this offseason thus far.
In this scenario, the Cowboys use their excess draft capital to move up back into the first-round to stop the slide of cornerback Caleb Farley, who is widely considered one of the top players at his position in this draft class. Farley, like Parsons, burst onto the college football scene with an impressive performance in 2019.
The 22-year old finished the year with an impressive four interceptions and 12 pass deflections, both of which were good for the second-most in the competitive ACC. However, also like Parsons, the young defender followed up that year by deciding to opt-out of the 2020 season.
Even with that decision, and his somewhat concerning injury history, the Virginia Tech product was widely considered to be a potential top-ten draft pick until recently. That all changed when it was revealed that the defensive back would be forced to miss his Pro Day due to a (relatively minor) back surgery.
While Farley’s injury history is clearly a potential red flag, it is hard to find many others for the former Hokie. The six-foot-two, 207-pound prospect displays a rare combination of size, speed, and playmaking ability that certainly warrants a first-round selection.
The Dallas Cowboys take a little bit of a chance on Caleb Farley with this move. However, this move could wind up being one of the biggest steals of the draft if he can simply stay healthy for Dallas. The team also addresses what is arguably their biggest need with this move.