Dallas Cowboys 7 Round Mock Draft: Offseason Day 1 (v1.0)

Ashtyn Davis – Safety – California

I wanted a safety in the first round, but was happy more often than not when Ashtyn Davis was available in the second more often than not. Before the injury I might have taken Hamsah Nasirildeen, but with the uncertainty of his injury, Davis is a great second option. There were a stacked group of running backs and some wide receivers, but felt I could get a wide receiver later in the draft and not lose a lot in terms of value.

I love Davis’ ball skills. He has a great nose for finding the ball and playing the ball. He reads the quarterback’s eyes and makes plays off what he sees and diagnoses. His ball skills go beyond being able to break, he can also cover and play the ball from the trail in man coverage. He has the speed and agility to keep up with most receivers which gives him versatility in both zone and man schemes. He can play safety, slot, blitz, and special teams, so his ability to fit a complex defense and be effective is something the Cowboys would love to have.

The only real knocks I have on Davis are his tackling and run support aren’t the best in this class. With a first round pick of Kinlaw, I felt better going with a ball hawking safety than if I went in a different direction. He will need work in the run defense, but can and will contribute immediately while he works on it.

Other Names: Brycen Hopkins, Bryce Hall, and Marvin Wilson. Hopkins is one of the best tight ends in this class, but I think the Cowboys might look to free agency. Hall is a good corner with great ball skills, but unsure about his man to man skills. Wilson is a defensive tackle, but with Kinlaw, he doesn’t make sense in this mock.