{"id":37012,"date":"2025-03-29T08:12:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T08:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=37012"},"modified":"2025-03-29T08:12:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T08:12:15","slug":"cowboys-defense-gets-boost-from-surprising-new-name-in-recent-nfl-mock-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=37012","title":{"rendered":"Cowboys defense gets boost from surprising new name in recent NFL mock draft"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With April just around the corner, the NFL mock drafts will continue to come in at a rapid pace. For the\u00a0Dallas Cowboys, the focus has typically been on offensive prospects, but that could be changing.<\/p>\n

There have been calls for them to address their\u00a0needs along the defensive line, especially after they struggled against the run last season. Now, there’s another position to consider with Ian Valentino of\u00a0The 33rd Team<\/em>\u00a0making a surprise pick in his recent mock draft.<\/p>\n

Even with wide receivers Matthew Golden and Emeka Egubuka, as well as running back Ashton Jeanty on the board, Valentino\u00a0selects South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori at No. 12\u00a0for Dallas.<\/p>\n

“A popular spot to mock a receiver or running back, the Cowboys shouldn’t feel the need to reach at either position. There will be starting-caliber playmakers at each of their picks on the board on Day 2. Getting a more dynamic safety than either Malik Hooker or Donovan Wilson is how this secondary can take a massive jump in playmaking. Nick Emmanwori is a historic-level athlete and proved capable of elevating a unit in 2024.” \u2014 Valentino,\u00a0The 33rd Team<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Valentino is correct that Emmanwori would be an upgrade at safety, and it’s hard to recall the last time the Cowboys had a game-changer at the position.<\/p>\n

Emmanwori\u00a0stole the show at the NFL Combine, but he’s more than just a workout warrior. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder recorded 88 tackles with four interceptions, two of which he returned for a touchdown, as he led the Gamecocks’ defense through a dominant stretch in 2024.<\/p>\n

If the Cowboys were ready for a difference-maker such as Emmanwori, this is the year to do it. There will still be options for them at wideout and\u00a0running back on Day 2, and even Day 3, that could help them round out the roster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With April just around the corner, the NFL mock drafts will continue to come in at a rapid pace. For the\u00a0Dallas Cowboys, the focus has typically been… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nCowboys defense gets boost from surprising new name in recent NFL mock draft - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=37012\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cowboys defense gets boost from surprising new name in recent NFL mock draft - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With April just around the corner, the NFL mock drafts will continue to come in at a rapid pace. 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