2021 NFL draft grades: Our experts give their overall impressions of Cowboys’ defense-heavy class

SportsDay’s columnists and Cowboys insiders grade Dallas’ 11-player 2021 draft class:

Find our staff grades from Round 1 here.

Find our staff grades from Round 2 here.

Kevin Sherrington

Grade: B-minus

Looking for leadership and starters on defense, the Cowboys got two guys suspended in college and another accused of dating violence. Parsons and Joseph will play, but Cox was my favorite pick.

Michael Gehlken

Grade: B-minus

The Cowboys have a draft board. We don’t. They pour thousands of hours into this all year. We don’t. So to place a grade on these 11 picks is somewhat uncomfortable. That said, you can only be so high on a draft class that now sends eight young defenders into a locker room where veteran defensive leadership isn’t nearly as ubiquitous as it should be.

David Moore

Grade: C-plus

The goal was to improve on defense. Dallas did, in part, by throwing numbers at the problem. Eight of the 11 players taken over the three days are on that side of the ball. The question now is are they the right players. Micah Parsons undoubtedly is. The jury is out on many of the others.

John Owning

Grade: C-plus

The Cowboys’ 2021 draft class is littered with boom-or-bust talent that could have this grade shifting dramatically in either direction in three years. Spending most picks on defense was smart strategy and should aid in the rebuild.

Tim Cowlishaw

Grade: C-plus

I still think the Cowboys missed the mark by watching Horn and Surtain go right in front of them in the first round. No idea if any character concerns will be a future problem but it’s never great to have more than one. Linebacker now is a position of strength with the team having flexibility to move beyond past the starters if needed. No safety.

Calvin Watkins

Grade: C

The Cowboys started the draft strong by selecting Micah Parsons at No. 12 overall, following a trade down when it became apparent the two best corners were off the board at No. 10. Dallas made the right decision in getting an inside linebacker with some edge that can push Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith. Kelvin Joseph, the second-round pick, had a higher grade than some expected and has a chance to start Week 1. There are questions about some defensive players and there is the off-the-field issue with tackle Josh Ball, a fourth-round selection from Marshall. The Cowboys drafted eight defensive players and it doesn’t appear all will make the final roster

You grade the picks

Read more from Day 1

— The trade: Dallas goes from No. 10 to No. 12

— Film room: Breaking down Micah Parsons

— Draft grades: Our experts give their thoughts

— Tim Cowlishaw: Failure to land a cornerback feels like defeat

— ‘A baller with an attitude’: National reaction to the pick

— David Moore: Cowboys made the best out of an unexpected, yet welcome surprise

— Micah Parsons addresses off-field questions, says Cowboys know he’s ‘not a character concern at all’

— Parsons sets big goals for rookie season, wants to be one of NFL’s ‘big-time players’

Read more from Day 2

— Best available prospects on Day 3

— Draft grades: Our experts give their thoughts

— Cowboys have remained remarkably focused on defense this draft, Jerry Jones says they’re not done yet

— Round 2, pick No. 44: Cowboys get ‘a playmaker,’ potential starter in Kentucky cornerback Kelvin Joseph at No. 44

— Round 3, pick No. 75: UCLA DL Osa Odighizuwa

— Round 3, pick No. 84: Iowa DE Chauncey Golston

— Round 3, pick No. 99: Nahshon Wright says he is a ‘more athletic, agile Richard Sherman’

Read more from Day 3

— Undrafted free agent tracker

— Draft grades: Our experts give their thoughts

— ‘Dan Quinn draft’ or not, after Cowboys’ last three days this is unmistakably Dan Quinn’s defense

— Cowboys’ aggressive expansion on defense sends a clear message: Players will have to earn their spot in Dallas

— Round 4, pick No. 115: LSU LB Jabril Cox

— Round 4, pick No. 138: Marshall OT Josh Ball

— Round 5, pick No. 179: Stanford WR Simi Fehoko

— Round 6, pick No. 192: Kentucky DT Quinton Bohanna

— Round 6, pick No. 227: South Carolina CB Israel Mukuamu

— Round 7, pick No. 238: Nebraska G Matt Farinok

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