Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Massive Defensive Reload
By Reid Hanson
Round 5, Pick 179
CB, Nevelle Clarke
UCF
As we’ve discussed, the Dallas Cowboys have a need at cornerback. Not just this year, but going forward. Byron Jones is gone and chances are Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie will be gone next year. Dallas re-signed Anthony Brown to a modest 3-year deal this offseason, offering a bit of stability, but Dallas really needs to repopulate the ranks sooner rather than later.
In round 3 we reached a little and snagged CB Darney Holmes. Here in the fifth round, we’re finding tremendous value in Nevelle Clarke. At 6-foot-1, 179lbs, Clarke has the length, quickness, and foot speed to play boundary.
Clarke has true ball skills that should be a welcomed sight in Dallas. His ability to track the ball makes him optimal on the outside and a great developmental prospect for the Cowboys. But his lack of strength and desire to tackle mean he’s going to need a little physical development before he can be relied on to compete on every down.
His lack of strength is the primary reason he’s available here, though, and it’s not common to find a player with his coverage ability available on Day 3 of the draft.
https://twitter.com/UCF_Football/status/1162104947732692992
Anthony Brown has spent time to both inside nickel and outside CB, so Dallas doesn’t need to force anything with their CBs this year. But having another body with the length to play the boundary is important and Clarke helps position the Cowboys better for 2021 when Chido and Lewis are gone.
The Cowboys will essentially enter 2021 with Brown, Holmes and Clarke under contract. No matter how we look at it, they’re going to need to find a true CB1 next offseason. But adding Clarke and Holmes secures their depth and potentially offers Top-3 CB solutions.