FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys snagged another cornerback in the third round to boost the secondary, selecting Oregon State’s Nahshon Wright at pick 99. He was projected to go in the later rounds, but Dallas evidently had him higher on their draft board. Wright certainly fits Dan Quinn’s coveted mold: length and ball skills.
“Nahshon Wright, love his length,” Mike McCarthy described to media following his selection. “I really like his path through his career, the receiver skills. Dan Quinn was up at the Oregon State workout. We love the tape going into it. His ability to play with length but to also go and track the ball. Some of our guys compared him to Trevon (Diggs) as far as his ability to track the football. I think both those young guys (Kelvin Joseph, Nahshon Wright) bring us two excellent players that will compete in the secondary.”
At 6’4, 183 pounds, there is no question he fits Quinn’s desired size. Wright switched from receiver to cornerback at Laney College in 2018 and posted four interceptions, guiding the team to a championship and Power 5 offers for Wright. He landed a starting role at Oregon State and led the team in interceptions in 2019 (3) and 2020 (2). Wright received Honorable-Mention All-Pac 12 in 2020 and developed his route recognition and awareness over the time span.
The Oregon State product has the arm length to work over-the-top of receivers and high point the ball from different angles. A physical press corner with a good feel for outside routes and using the sideline to his advantage. Wright thrived as an outside corner and was comfortable on cutbacks, wheel routes, or double moves. He is not as solid on the inside covering slot receivers over the middle of the field but is the perfect fit for Quinn’s cover three scheme on the outside.
Football has always been in his fabric and Wright followed Quinn’s career trajectory. Now, he will be coached by the man that runs the scheme he favors. “I saw what he did at Atlanta and what type of scheme he ran,” Wright said. “And just the type of corners he likes, long and athletic.”
Wright needs development in his technique, transitions, and in off-coverage but he showed promise as the “wright” kind of guy at Oregon State’s workout. He will compete for snaps and could act as a consistent contributor for the Cowboys with an impressive offseason. He joins Trevon Diggs, Kelvin Joseph, Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Maurice Canady, and Reggie Robinson II in Dallas.
