USAT: Cowboys Wire audio clip

USAT: Cowboys Wire

Feb 22, 2022

There’s no doubt the Dallas Cowboys hit the mark by selecting linebacker Micah Parsons with the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NF L Draft. After a 13-sack season and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, how does Parsons and the other Cowboys’ selections stack up in comparison to the rest of the NFC East? - Nick Shook from NFL.com graded the draft classes for the division and Dallas came out on top with a perfect A+ score. - Dallas hit a 450-foot home run with its selection of Parsons, going best player available over clear need at 12th overall and reaping the rewards. Parsons won Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, completing a trifecta that has him entrenched as a key defensive star for years to come. Most of Dallas’ positive grade is built on the massive success of the Parsons pick, as it’s more of a “B” class without the star linebacker. - Alongside Parsons, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa got off to a hot start in 2021 and finished the season with two sacks and fourteen pressure in 12 starts. Cornerback Kelvin Joseph saw his snaps jump late in the season but Anthony Brown did enough to maintain his starting job in 2021 but the second-round pick out of Kentucky could sneak into the top spot in 2022. - After a full season in the NFL, Dallas could see a jump out of the likes of cornerback Nahshon Wright and defensive end Chauncey Golston, who had 10 pressures in his rookie campaign. - Golston was another rotational player who saw on-field time early and made consistent contributions despite watching his snaps fluctuate. Wright was drafted as a developmental corner who could eventually help fill the void left by Chidobe Awuzie’s departure, though he spent almost all of his rookie season on special teams. - The breakout sophomore for 2022 could be linebacker Jabril Cox, who looked primed for a jump in playing time after the Jaylon Smith release. This rise was derailed by a torn ACL for the LSU product on Nov. 1, sending him to the season-ending IR. - If he returns to 100% in 2022, he could build a strong tandem with Parsons for Dan Quinn’s defense. - For the rest of the division, the Philadelphia Eagles earned the runner-up spot in thanks to wide receiver Devonta Smith putting on a show as a rookie, but not against the Cowboys, where he only mustered six catches for 69 yards in two games. - The Giants and Commanders didn’t see much success out of their rookies, but New York has an interesting weapon in Kadarius Toney, who lit up Dallas. Albeit mostly in garbage time, Toney finished with 189 yards in AT&T Stadium but injuries derailed what could’ve been a breakout year for the rookie. - It’s safe to say the Cowboys dominated the division with the 2021 draft class and now the Eagles and Giants have to live with letting Parsons fall to Dallas for years to come. - - List - - Cowboys News: Amari Cooper escape hatch, another Dallas assistant hired away - - - - - - - List - - Pro Football Focus puts 7 Cowboys on Top 101, including 4 of 5 offensive linemen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Cowboys Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Cowboys Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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Mar 17, 2022