FRISCO, Texas —- The 2021 NFL draft is in the rearview and following the Cowboys’ 11 picks from Thursday to Saturday, owner/general manager Jerry Jones, chief operating officer Stephen Jones, head coach Mike McCarthy, and vice president of player personnel Will McClay recapped the three-day event in a post-draft press conference at the Star on Saturday evening. From skillset evaluations, scheme fits, to discussing character concerns- the faces of the franchise answered media questions. Here are some key takeaways and their immediate thoughts on the 2021 draft class.
Priority traits the staff targeted in evaluating defensive prospects
After last season’s lackluster performance on the defensive side of the football, for the first time in the organization’s history, the team’s top six picks were defensive players. Eight of Dallas’ 11 selections were defensive additions to bolster all three levels. The main things the staff looked for, speed and length.
Will McClay “I think we came in looking to make us a bigger, longer, stronger, faster defense, and a team. When we looked at the process and looked at all the prospects, we are looking at how they play the techniques and all those things and seeing how they tie into what the coaches want and what we were looking for positionally and how we wanted to do things. That was a big part of it, but also spending time with the coaches. Part of our process, the best part of it, is being inclusive. Not only just the scouts, but ownership and coaches, we all get in there together and figure out what we want to do. That was the best part of it, and a unique part of it. What we do is how we get together, and we collaborate on it all.”
Addressing Josh Ball’s domestic abuse incidents at Florida State
Facing domestic abuse allegations is one thing but to be dismissed from school as a result, is something different entirely. The allegations led to his departure from Florida State and arrival at the JUCO level (Butler County Community College), then two seasons at Marshall. As his scouting report declared, the Cowboys had to do extensive homework/background on Josh Ball. The front office described the research process and bringing him to Dallas.
Stephen Jones: “We went in depth, and these are young men. Not everybody is perfect. One of the biggest criteria we look at when we look at a young man, is how he responds to adversity and how he moves forward. We felt comfortable with him and felt like he was going to do a great job for us going forward… “I just think having a long visit with him. At the end of the day, you look at it, you see how it works, you see what happened, and, certainly, when you are 18, 19, 20, 21-years-old, these guys can be immature when they are learning the ropes, if you will. We just felt comfortable that this guy is maturing, and he is going to do a great job for us.”
Jerry Jones: “I’ve got a lot to say to our fans. First of all, we are excited about this team we are putting together here for our fans, and we are hopefully that we are going to get to play in front of all of our fans. The types of issues that we are talking about that Stephen alluded to, that young men in this case can find themselves a part of, that has never changed since I have owned the Cowboys. Never changed as to how we have handled this. It has never changed – I want to be real clear. Never changed with any coach here. The things that we would have to look into are so unique to the individuals that are involved, and so then you have to go over and get the individuals that are involved and you have to look at their scouting background- I’m talking about boy scouts or whatever to use an illustration – so the decision of whether or not we want him to be a future of the team and whether or not that conduct can be altered or changed has everything to do with how we evaluate the person. Anytime that I have ever been criticized over the last 30-something years, anytime I’ve ever been criticized or would look at a situation, it is exactly the same way I looked at it then. I believe in second chances. I believe in people learning from their mistakes. In way, that is what part of the game is about.”
The draw to Jabril Cox’s game
Dallas got a steal in the fourth round. LSU linebacker, Jabril Cox was projected to go in the second or third but fell to the fourth. The Cowboys snagged the best player available to add to the linebacker room depth with Micah Parsons. Prior to his one-year career with LSU, he spent three seasons as a cornerstone in North Dakota State’s defense with his discipline in coverage. Will McClay breaks down the best feature to his game- spatial awareness.
Will McClay: “The game now – from what we learn from the coaches – is that it’s a space game. You need players who are able to make plays in space. The prevalence in tight ends and slot games and the different things you have to do with players that can accomplish that. Guys that can play in space, who can run and have length, they were attractive to us. [Cox] stood out to us because of his abilities that he showed at North Dakota State and LSU.”
Nose tackle role and Quinton Bohanna’s selection
The Cowboys’ run defense ranked 31st last season and adding to the interior depth was a focal point in the draft. Quinton Bohanna actively plugged both gaps at Kentucky, anchoring in the run game. Both were points of emphasis to the staff.
Mike McCarthy: I think you have to have an anchor. Everybody has a philosophy of how many you have on your team. Will has already touched on it, but it’s a space game, and it’s a little more wide open. You’ve got to recognize your run defense. When you have a defensive line, a four-man front, a general observation is that in a normal down and distance, you want to have three jets and a plug. You’ve got to have a guy that demands two people to block him, ideally. To have that anchor in there is definitely something that is needed, and I thought that it was a great pick, especially at that time.”
Safety potential of 6’4 cornerback picks
The Cowboys’ grabbed the tallest cornerback prospects in the draft. Nahshon Wright is 6’4, as is Israel Mukuamu. Dan Quinn likes lengthier cornerbacks in matchups with a “ballhawk mentality.” Dallas drafted three cornerbacks and Mukuamu lined up at South Carolina as an outside cornerback, in the nickel, and at free safety. When asked about a switch to safety, Stephen Jones and Mike McCarthy shed some light. Mukuamu told media he feels more comfortable at corner but is willing to play any position to “just get on the field.”
Stephen Jones: “Obviously, Mukuamu I think we’ve got some safety aspirations for him. Give our scouts credit. They had a vision. This guy is long, he’s got great ball skills and he’s a little heavier than Nahshon [Wright] I think we’ve got a vision, and that’s probably where we’ll start him, over at the safety position and see what he can do. He obviously has a lot of confidence as a corner, if you ask him. At the same time, I think he’s got the ball skills to play in the post to cover tight ends and do the things we need him to do and be physical enough to be a safety.”
Mike McCarthy: “All three of the defensive backs had outstanding ball skills. That was a big focus of ours, and both of the larger corners definitely have matchup capabilities. Their ability to not only play a different position but who they can match up with.”
Micah Parsons’ skillset
The Cowboys’ first-round selection fills a need with the retirement of Sean Lee and departure of Joe Thomas in free agency. Parsons has a small sample size at linebacker, playing as a defensive end in high school. However, the switch in college makes his production more impressive. At Penn State “linebacker U,” he became the first sophomore to be the Big 10 linebacker of the year in the conference’s 125-year history. Michah Parsons has not scratched the surface with his dynamic ability downhill and outstanding sideline range. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at his Pro Day and his speed turned heads, notably the Cowboys.
Will McClay: “It’s hard not to see him when you watch him play to be that strong, that fast, that physical and that instinctive. When (Penn State) played out here at the Cotton Bowl and you see him out here you say, ‘Oh. That’s something.’ Because you don’t see guys that big, that fast and that athletic. Then getting to know him, and his intensity level and his desire to be great. That was the thing that stood out the most when we got to talking. You can see what he does out on the field, but then you get to find out more about the young man and about what he can bring to you, I think that was the most attractive thing.”
