Analyzing the Cowboys 2023 draft class and their possible roles

6th Round (178th) Eric Scott Jr. CB, Southern Mississippi ADP: Undrafted

Dallas focused much of the draft addressing needs. Later in the draft, it's time to find some hidden gems. Guys you don't expect to have an immediate impact but can contribute to special teams while they develop. Hopefully, within two or three years these players carve out a role for themselves.

You can never have too many cornerbacks. That's why the Cowboys drafted at least one in the past four drafts, which now becomes five. This time around, it's Southern Mississippi's Eric Scott Jr.

He is an interesting prospect. He ran a 4.71-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, but that's supposedly linked to a pulled quad. Before that, Scott claims he was running a 4.41. What's not questionable, though, is his explosiveness. He had an eleven-foot one-inch broad jump and 39.5-inch vertical.

He loves playing the ball, which led to him allowing only a 50 percent completion percentage, picking off two passes (both pick-sixes), and knocking down five passes last season. The former Golden Eagle is not afraid to jump in front of his receivers to make a play on the ball.

PLUS: Scott already has a relationship with Overshown and Smith, as they worked out together before the draft. That early connection will only help him while with the team.

He has all the traits to succeed as a zone corner. Solid tackling, explosiveness, and an eye for the ball. His instincts are good, leading to his jumps into making a play. He also tracks a ball like a wide receiver, so if one is thrown in his way, there's a 50 percent chance he can grab it.

MINUS: While he is always in contention to pick off a pass, his interceptions were not impressive, with most stemming from a deflection or poor throw. They were essentially open catches, except for one in which he stepped in front of a receiver and grabbed it.

He is not the most agile player, which could be why he did not do the agility drills on his pro day. Man coverage could be problematic if his speed is not as fast as he thinks.

ROLE: His solid tackling will do him well on special teams. Scott will have to earn his stripes there before coming in as a pure zone player for a few seasons from now. The potential is there with his playmaking ability and explosiveness.

At this point, teams just project. The Cowboys asked him for DB tape, then traded up for the top pick in the sixth round to grab him. I bet they were banking on his 40-time scaring other teams off and were waiting until this round to grab him. Only one of the four mock drafts had him drafted.

Dallas clearly sees something they love in him, so why shouldn't we? Not everyone had him getting drafted, so trading to grab him at the top of the sixth is concerning to me. Could Scott have fallen to 212th? If not, was he really worth getting traded for? This seemed like a must-grab to them, but I'm not convinced yet.

GRADE: C+