Bleacher Report gives Cowboys perfect grade on 2021 Draft Picks
The week after Super Wild Card Weekend, Bleacher Report graded every single NFL team’s 2021 draft picks. The list allowed fans to see if the new members had a positive impact, how they may impact the team long term, and understand what mistakes organizations made. While some teams majorly flopped, the Dallas Cowboys received a perfect rating from Bleacher Report.
The Cowboys were the only team on the list to get an A+. Coming closely behind with A grades were the Bengals, Lions, Chargers, Dolphins, and Eagles.
With the year that standout rookie linebacker Micah Parsons had, this grade shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Parsons will easily take home the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and he is still a top candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year.
Dallas’ selection of Parsons alone should get them an A+. You can easily argue that he was the best selection in the draft overall in any position considering how quickly he made an impact on the team. However, there are other names that helped get them a perfect score.
The Eagles traded up with the Cowboys just to draft a receiver that they refuse to legitimately use in a playoff game all while Dallas was still able to land Micah Parsons after moving back.
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 16, 2022
Bleacher Report gives Dallas Cowboys A+ grade for their 2021 NFL Draft picks
Let’s remind you who the Cowboys drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft:
Round 1, pick No. 12 (from PHI) – Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Round 2, pick No. 44 – Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky
Round 3, pick No. 75 – Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA
Round 3, pick No. 84 – Chauncey Golston, DE, Iowa
Round 3, pick No. 99 – Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State
Round 4, pick No. 115 – Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Round 4, pick No. 138 – Josh Ball, OT, Marshall
Round 5, pick No. 179 – Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford
Round 6, pick No. 192 – Quinton Bohanna, DT, Kentucky
Round 6, pick No. 227 – Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
Round 7, pick No. 238 – Matt Farniok, G, Nebraska
Dallas had mostly defensive selections in the 2021 draft. Obviously, it helped. The Cowboys, an organization widely known for having a terrible defense for many years, completely turned things around with the help of DC Dan Quinn. The defense led the league in interceptions and turnovers.
Aside from Parsons, several other of the above names got to see the field and help out the team this year. Cornerback Kelvin Joseph (who was largely overshadowed by the stellar year of Trevon Diggs) had 16 solo tackles, one tackle for loss, and had a PFF grade of 71.2 in his rookie year.
UCLA’s Osa Odighizuwa started in 12 games. The defensive tackle contributed 32 solo tackles and two sacks. Iowa’s Chauncey Golston had four QB hits, 14 solo tackles, and a sack in 15 appearances. Plus, names like Israel Mukuamu, Nahshon Wright, and Jabril Cox all had playing time, too.
#Cowboys' Stephen Jones tells @1053thefan they have a great nucleus to build on with young players. Says they added to it with a player like Micah Parsons. Also says Kelvin Joseph, Osa Odighizuwa, and Chauncey Golston played well this year.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) January 17, 2022
The front office is clearly satisfied with their young guns, and Cowboys fans should be too. Although this year didn’t end the way Dallas wanted it to, there is hope in the fact that America’s Team has many young players who will continue to impact this team next year. Let’s hope the 2022 NFL Draft is just as successful for Jerry Jones and Co.
