APC Community Mock Draft - The Cowboys are ready to pick and close out the top 10

Our readers think that the Broncos’ new GM, George Paton, will make a splash and try to upgrade from Drew Lock. With weapons like Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Noah Fant on the roster, Denver could be a great QB away from a potent offense; something they’ll need to keep up with Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes in the AFC West.

Picking next is the Dallas Cowboys at #10. If there’s one thing we know about the Cowboys right now, it’s that they need a lot of help at DB. While they’re sure to be enamored with many of the offensive weapons around this pick (Jerry Jones reportedly loves Kyle Pitts), going defense would make the most sense here. We’ll run down the previous picks and then head into the Cowboys’ options.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2. New York Jets - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
3. San Francisco 49ers - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
4. Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
5. Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OL, Oregon
6. Miami Dolphins - Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
7. Detroit Lions - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
8. Carolina Panthers - Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
9. Denver Broncos - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

The Cowboys have a few great options on defense with pick #10:

Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

One of the highest-profile opt-outs from the 2020 season, Parsons could well be the first defensive player off the board. He was a wrecking ball in his only season as a starter in 2019, with over 100 tackles, 14 TFLs, 5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. Penn State’s Pro Day measurements (which come on a notoriously fast track) had him timed at an unbelievable 4.36 in the 40 — and that was at 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds. Even if that speed is exaggerated, Parsons’ movement abilities will make him a dangerous weapon at the second level. Perhaps the only questions NFL teams may have about Parsons center around his character, with some concerns stemming from a fight with a teammate in 2018.

Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

Think Rashan Gary 2.0. Paye is almost as impressive an athlete as Gary was coming out in 2019, though Paye is a bit smaller at 6-foot-2-½ and 261 pounds to Gary’s 6-foot-4, 277-pound frame. Still, the two players share similarities in that they both had production that did not quite live up to their pro projections, with Paye’s 2020 limited to four games by injury and the COVID pandemic. Still, Paye averaged one TFL per game over his last two seasons and posted 8.5 sacks in his last 16 games, and it’s not hard to imagine a team falling in love with his tools the way the Packers did with Gary.

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

A candidate to be the first cornerback off the board, Surtain could eclipse his father’s draft status. The senior Surtain was a second-round pick by the Dolphins in 1998 and would go on to be an All-Pro. Junior is a big (6-foot-2, 208), physical, explosive corner who had a great workout (though he skipped agility drills). He’s probably best-suited to a man coverage scheme, but has played both outside and in the slot.

With the 10th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select…

That does it for this week’s picks! We’ve rounded out the top 10 and a few franchises have hopefully changed their trajectory with 4 QB’s in the top 10, including 3 going in the first three picks. The Cowboys are set to take the first defensive player of the draft after a run on the top receiving options and linemen. We’ll be back at it on Monday at 11 AM EST with the New York Giants at pick 11 and then at 4 PM EST with the Philadelphia Eagles and pick 12. Be sure to check back here and keep voting!