College Football

2017 NFL Draft: 7 Cornerback Targets for Dallas Cowboys

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:05 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Fansided, Randy Gurzi/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

With starting cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr both set for free agency, the Dallas Cowboys may want to look at these seven draft prospects

The Dallas Cowboys have an often-mocked secondary. They struggle to step up when needed most and they record very little in the way of turnovers. That may be one of the reasons the front office doesn’t go out of their way to retain Morris Claiborne or Brandon Carr this offseason.

Carr came over in 2012 on a huge free agent deal after starting his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has never missed a game and while he doesn’t have a long list of interceptions, he has held his own against some of the best the NFL has to offer. He did take a pay cut this season, showing he can be a team-first player, which is a plus.

Claiborne came to the team that same season. He was the sixth overall pick and Dallas paid dearly for his services. Since then he has struggled to stay healthy. This season he was playing very well before another injury sent him to the sidelines. Like Carr, he records little turnovers. Given his injury history, he is the least likely of the two to get re-signed. Although Carr is no lock either.

What Dallas may elect to do is head into 2017 with veteran Orlando Scandrick and their surprising sixth-round pick Anthony Brown as the favorites to start. Doing so would mean drafting a future starter is a must as well. Here are seven guys they could consider.

Nov 29, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Quincy Wilson (12) intercepts Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (not pictured) during the first quarter at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Quincy Wilson – Florida

The University of Florida has turned out some very good defensive players in recent years. This season looks to be more of the same, and one of the better players heading into the draft is Quincy Wilson. He has the height to match up against the tallest of receivers and a thick build as well to hold up during a long NFL season.

More from NFL Spin Zone

Vitals

Height: 6-1
Weight: 213 pounds
Total Tackles: 81
Pass Defenses: 14
Interceptions: 6

What the Scouts Say

Scouts like the size of Wilson for sure, as well as his physical nature. He doesn’t shy away in the run game and has enough speed to keep up with most receivers. Scouts don’t like his lack of technique and focus at times. There’s also times he gets too physical, which leads to plenty of penalties. Per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports:

Will He Land in Dallas?

The Cowboys have shown a willingness to spend their first round picks on defensive backs. They did so with Claiborne five drafts ago as well as in 2015 with Byron Jones. Jones started at corner before eventually moving to free safety. Could they add another first-rounder to that defensive backfield?

The answer is, sure they could. The issue would be that not all the cornerback woes are their fault. A general lack of pass rush has attributed to the errors in coverage, so drafting a player like Wilson won’t have as huge of an impact as it could with a decent pass rush. This pick makes sense if A) he’s the best player on the board and B) the Boys feel good about getting a quality edge rusher in Round 2.

Oct 22, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Sidney Jones (26) in action against the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 41-17. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

2. Sidney Jones – Washington

His team came just a step away from the NCAA Championship game, but they were simply outplayed by one of the two best teams in the nation. That doesn’t take away from the success Sidney Jones had on the field for the Washington Huskies. He has been a solid defender since his freshman days ands heads to the NFL as one of the higher rated cornerback prospects in the draft.

Vitals

Height: 6-0
Weight: 181 pounds
Total Tackles: 145
Pass Defenses: 21
Interceptions: 8

What the Scouts Say

He is compared favorably to his former teammate and 2015 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters. His greatest asset is his speed. Jones also has plenty of height, but could stand to add some weight, which should come in time for the 21-year old. Per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

Will He Land in Dallas?

He has been mocked to Dallas recently, and it would be an excellent pick at No. 28. While he isn’t as big of a corner as Wilson he has much more speed. That’s something the Dallas corners have struggled with. They have plenty of guys who can be physical and match up with tall wide outs, but they really need that one guy who can make opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes.

Jones had four interceptions in 2015 and returned them for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Selecting him at 28 (if available) would be one of the few picks that would make waiting on a pass rusher worth it.

Oct 1, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Northwestern Wildcats punter Hunter Niswander (96) tackles Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

3. Desmond King – Iowa

One of the more productive college corners, Desmond King had eight interceptions for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2015. He’s also a willing tackler, evidenced by his season low for tackles coming in 2016 when he had 58 tackles on the year.

Vitals

Height: 5-11
Weight: 203 pounds
Total Tackles: 263
Pass Defenses: 33
Interceptions: 14

What the Scouts Say

Scouts obviously love his instincts. He recorded zero picks as a freshman, meaning all 14 of his interceptions came in his final three seasons, including his insane junior year. His numbers were down as a senior, which will bring up many questions. Best fit in a zone defense, which Dallas employs. Here’s what Charlie Campbell of Walter Football had to say:

Will He Land in Dallas?

His ability as a ball hawk is a plus. His instincts and fit in a zone defense is another plus. He would arguably be the best fit for what defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli wants to do with his corners. He inherited man-to-man guys like Claiborne and Carr, so it would be interesting to see if the interception total would increase with such a move.

King likely won’t be there when Dallas picks in round two, but he may not be worth a first round pick to them. Jones seems like the one game changer that would be worth waiting on a pass rusher, but they could do a lot worse than King.

Oct 31, 2015; Fort Collins, CO, USA; San Diego State Aztecs defensive back Damontae Kazee (23) calls out towards the student section of the Colorado State Rams in the fourth quarter at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. The Aztecs defeated the Rams 41-17. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

4. Damontae Kazee – San Diego State

He didn’t play at one of the bigger name schools, so his 15 interceptions over the past two years wasn’t made into a huge deal. Still, San Diego State cornerback Damontae Kazee showed incredible ball skills the past two years. In addition to the picks, he also had 214 yards and two touchdowns on interception returns in 2015 and 2016.

Vitals

Height: 5-11
Weight: 190 pounds
Total Tackles: 240
Pass Defenses: 29
Interceptions: 17

What the Scouts Say

His height is a question. Any time a corner is under 6-foot that’s the case, even when it’s only one inch under. While that question gets brought up, it really shouldn’t be an issue. He’s smart about his coverage and has great instincts. He is viewed as more of a slot corner than an outside guy as well. Rob Rang of CBS Sports evaluate Kazee like so:

Will He Land in Dallas?

Considering his grade, currently a mid-rounder, he sure would be worth it. What Dallas needs is guys who can create turnovers. They simply don’t have that one guy who can flip field position or make a key stop. The Cowboys play safeties deep to prevent the long pass, so having a guy like Kazee who may gamble and lose on double moves may not be the worst thing ever. Should he still be around in the fourth round, he makes a ton of sense. Even if Dallas already picked a corner earlier, it could be time for an overhaul anyway.

Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) scores a touchdown on an interception in the second quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Jourdan Lewis – Michigan

A two-time First Team All-American, Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis has played against some elite talent. He also had some elite coaching while playing for the Wolverines. His head coach, Jim Harbuagh, took the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2013 and he turned the program around at Michigan almost overnight.

Vitals

Height: 5-11
Weight: 186 pounds
Total Tackles: 135
Pass Defenses: 37
Interceptions: 6

What the Scouts Say

He shows a great knack for getting between the receiver and the ball, the best evidence of this came in 2015 when he deflected 20 passes while intercepting two more. He gets the same treatment as other corners who fall just one-inch under the 6-foot mark, the under-sized label. However, renowned draft guru Dane Brugler says that Lewis is “Undersized, but effective.” Continuing:

Of course there are issues with his game as well. Lewis struggles with faster receivers, gets too physical and may not be an ideal slot guy. Which isn’t a big deal in Dallas because even if he were the third guy they could slide veteran Orlando Scandrick inside thanks to his great versatility. Russell Brown of NFL Mocks had this to add, as well:

Will He Land in Dallas?

It could happen, especially since there are indications that the team is interested in him. According to Jon Ledyard of Scout.com, the Dallas brass spent some time talking to Lewis during the Senior Bowl. Last year Dallas stayed true to the players they were tied to during the pre-draft process. Look for more of the same. Lewis could be an option for them in the second round for sure.

Nov 28, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Cameron Sutton (7) during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

6. Cameron Sutton – Tennessee

Tennessee cornerback Cameron Sutton showed some immense promise during his four seasons with the Volunteers. He was a top corner while also serving as a good punt returner. He averaged 14.3 yards per return and had three touchdowns. Injuries slowed him down quite a bit his senior season, but many will be intrigued enough by his sophomore and junior seasons to take a shot.

Vitals

Height: 5-11
Weight: 186 pounds
Total Tackles: 127
Pass Defenses: 30
Interceptions: 7

What the Scouts Say

Scouts love his ball skills and his vision as a return man. He has enough speed to match up with anyone. His ankle injuries will be a concern, which is disheartening given that he missed zero games before returning for his senior season. Again, Rob Rang of CBS Sports offered his thoughts on Sutton:

Will He Land in Dallas?

Nothing has been written placing the young corner on the Cowboys’ radar. That doesn’t mean things won’t change heading into the draft. His ability as a return man would surely be intriguing and Dallas has shown no problem taking a talented player who sees their stock drop due to injury (see Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith).

No. 7 Jeremy Cutrer, Middle Tennessee

Originally a member of the LSU 2013 recruiting class, Jeremy Cutrer was unable to make the team due to academics. He then spent two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before joining Middle Tennessee in 2015. He was a star for them immediately and had an amazing senior season with 63 tackles and three interceptions.

Vitals

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 170-Pounds
Total Tackles: 93
Pass Defenses: 22
Interceptions: 6

What the Scouts Say

There isn’t a whole lot out there on Cutrer thanks to playing for such a small school. He was however mentioned by Chad Reuter of NFL.com as a player to watch outside of the Power 5 conferences. His biggest knock is easily his lack of weight, but that could be fixed once he works with professional strength coaches.

He possesses amazing length and has some refined coverage ability. His best trait would be his hands. Curtrer spent time at receiver while playing for Mississippi Gulf Coast and has even said safety would be an option for him as well. Via Chad Reuter of NFL.com:

Must Read: 2017 NFL Draft: 6 Wide Receiver Draft Targets for the Dallas Cowboys

Will He Land in Dallas?

Curter seems like the kind of guy head coach Jason Garrett would love. He has position flex like current free safety Byron Jones, who also spent time at corner. He also has great hands thanks to his time as a wide receiver. Not to beat a dead horse, but great hands in the defensive backfield would be huge for the Cowboys. Curter could be the 2017 version of Anthony Brown if he isn’t snatched up early. As a late round pick he could eventually develop into a stud.

share

Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

College Football

Dallas Cowboys

National Football League