Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Defensive Rebuild Amidst Big Trade

Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft

Round 3, Pick 86

Hamsah Nasirildeen, SAF

Florida State

I’m not sure what the Dallas Cowboys have at safety this offseason. It appears we have Donovan Wilson and Keanu Neal (even though Neal will probably play more WILL than SS) and after that it’s unknown. At the time of this mock draft, Dallas is kicking the tires on a couple FS options so we’re going to assume at least one of them comes to be.

But when is the last time a free agent safety really panned out for Dallas? The Cowboys need to add new young talent to cultivate and develop if they hope to actually solve their problems at the position and that’s why I’m going with Hamsah Nasirildeen here.

The 6-foot-3 213 lbs safety from Florida State is well known in Cowboys Nation. Drawing comparisons to Kam Chancellor he seems perfect to play SS in Dan Quinn’s single high defense. While that’s nowhere close to being respectful to Chancellor, it’s an understandable comparison.

Watching his film he looks a little unnatural in coverage. His zone coverage gets more suspect the further back he goes and his ability to cover in man was questionable at best. But at the Senior Bowl he looked like a new man, shadowing TEs and receivers and looking like a plus coverage player.

It’s hard to say how he projects in coverage at the next level but he seems to be improving and at the very least he’s a valuable box safety with TE coverage skills. His position flex is another trait Stephen Jones is going to like.

The Cowboys are expected to use many three safety looks in 2021 so this doesn’t mean anything for Donovan Wilson. He’s still a starting safety and he’s still best suited to play primary SS.