Cowboys 2021 draft positional rankings: Offensive Tackle

3 – Christian Darrisaw

Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw was probably the leading candidate to be the best offensive tackle in his draft class and although I have him ranked third overall, it has nothing to do with his play.

Darrisaw is going to make a football club very happy in the first round. Darrisaw is your prototypical left tackle that carries a bit of a mean streak. The six-foot-five 322-pound tackle looks like a mauler but plays more like a technician.

Perception is probably the main reason why he is listed as the third-best tackle in this draft and not in the conversation with the top two players on my board. When you first see him, you expect to see something spectacular but he merely goes out and plays well without it looking difficult.

As I said, expectations are hurting his draft stock but wanting flashy as opposed to just good every day is a great way to be on the unemployment line in the NFL and is a mistake I am not going to make.

If Darrisaw finished his opponents with more splash, the NFL draft narrative would read something to the likes of “the big three at tackle”.

Darrisaw reminds me of former Washington tackle Chris Samuels which is funny because I actually mocked Washington to take him with the 19th pick.

Darrisaw in Dallas does present a dilemma though. Darrisaw playing guard to me is a bit of a waste of his talents as I see him as a pure left tackle. He could play on the right side but that leaves the question about what to do with the two current starters.

Sure Tyron is starting to wind down but he will still be the team’s starting left tackle. Of all of the prospects on this list, Darrisaw is the least likely to become a Dallas Cowboys draftee.