Dallas Cowboys make shocking defensive pick in new NFL mock draft

The Dallas Cowboys are in a pivotal offseason with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and the front office leading the way.

Overall, the trio of Schottenheimer, Jerry Jones, and Stephen Jones have gotten off to a solid start to their tenure together, assembling an experienced and likable coaching staff while also bringing in a few roster additions.

The offseason additions though none of them are neccesarily hot of the press or groundbreaking they could be reflective of the saying "a little goes a long way" as the moves are sure help to help the team select the best player available in the NFL draft.

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Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer revealed his projected full seven-round mock draft, which includes the Cowboys drafting Georgia safety Malaki Starks, a player whom Iyer compares to Micah Parsons.

Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks (warms up before the start of the SEC championship game against Texas — Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks warms up before the start of the SEC championship game against Texas | Joshua l. Jones Athens Banner-Herald USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"The Cowboys need to think about getting much better playmaking at the position over Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker. Starks can give them a potential do-everything superstar, a la Micah Parsons in the front seven," said Iyer.

The Cowboys definitely need help at safety and have suffered through mediocrity since Roy Williams dominated the position in the 2000's.

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Despite this, the last time the Cowboys drafted a safety higher than the sixth round was Byron Jones in the first round of the 2015 draft. Jones was originally a cornerback before converting to safety his rookie season and then eventually back to cornerback.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Malaki Starks practices before the 2024 SEC Championship game. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Cowboys seemingly do not value safeties as highly as other teams do, but Starks is a talent worth taking a chance on.

Starks would help solve two of the Cowboys' defensive issues as a standout run defender and playmaker in coverage, while also allowing the team to create more cap space by possibly releasing Donovan Wilson or Malik Hooker.

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