Dallas Cowboys trade up for a unicorn in new mock draft

The injury concerns surrounding Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley push him out of the first round in this mock draft. As teams prepare for the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft, Farley is expected to go early in the second round. So the Cowboys pounce with another trade …

There are two factors to consider as to why the Cowboys would make this move. Drafting Pitts in the first round makes obtaining the best available cornerback paramount for Dallas. Two, the front office has a long history of taking chances on players with injury concerns in the second round.

The Cowboys trade away their second-round selection and their compensatory pick in the third round to move up nine spots to draft Farley. This is a player many believe to be the best cornerback prospect in this class. Unfortunately, back surgery this offseason threw up red flags across the NFL to the point where he falls to Day Two in this scenario.

Dallas now gives new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn a potential day one starter in Farley to add to a cornerback depth chart which already features 2020 second-round cornerback Trevon Diggs, veterans Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown, plus 2020 fourth-rounder Reggie Robinson II, and several others.

Over his two seasons at Virginia Tech, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound Farley racked up 56 total tackles, 19 pass deflections, and six interceptions. The Cowboys might also consider this trade-up for Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins if available.