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Dallas Cowboys Draft: 7 Different Safeties in 7 Different Rounds

By Adithya Prabakaran

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Xavier McKinney #DB52 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to the media on day four of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Xavier McKinney #DB52 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to the media on day four of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 01: Defensive back Brian Cole II of Mississippi State runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 01: Defensive back Brian Cole II of Mississippi State runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Brian Cole, Mississippi State

Round Grade: PFA

Value: Correct

The last safety on this list was available on all ten trials and was the best available safety at this point in the draft. This is a bit ironic as Cole only started playing safety as of three seasons ago. After starting out as a wide receiver at the University of Michigan, Cole made his way to popular JUCO East Mississippi Community College and eventually found his way to Starkville, Mississippi after changing positions.

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As an athlete, Cole is plenty fast to play the position after running a 4.52 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. He possesses excellent size standing at 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds while also having 10 inch hands. The former receiver is still learning the position and his natural athleticism limits him in coverage as he is tight hipped and generally lacking in lateral quickness.

Mentally he is still learning the position. His instincts in coverage are fairly behind compared to his other peers and even as a run defender, an area of the game where he showed consistency, he will take wrong angles and loses contain.

This is not a knock on his work ethic, it is just his progress thus far. The athletic profile has serious upside but how quickly Cole can develop will decide how far he makes it in the league. As someone with previous special teams experience, he might have a home on that area of the team.

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This “mock draft” of safeties gives us an idea as to who the Cowboys could draft with every pick and it gives an idea of the overall value of the position. The first round would be a bit of a reach but drafting a safety in the second through fourth rounds could give the Cowboys the most bang for their buck. Of course, this is barring a fall similar to Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s from last season.

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