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2021 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys 7-round mock

By Mike Phillips

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 08: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 8, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 08: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 8, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Bengals mock draft, James Hudson
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 01: James Hudson #55 of the Cincinnati Bearcats recast at the conclusion of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys mock draft – Second Round

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT. Cincinnati. James Hudson. 44. player. 123

An underrated problem for the Cowboys over the past few years has been injury problems along the offensive line. A big source of alarm came last season when Tyron Smith appeared in just two games after suffering a neck injury.

Smith has missed at least three games in each of the past five seasons and Dallas has struggled mightily to protect their quarterbacks when he has been sidelined. The Cowboys also have to strongly consider whether it is worth it to cut Smith and save at least $10 million against the salary cap since paying an aging tackle with a neck injury is very risky.

Finding a potential successor for Smith here is why the pick of Hudson makes sense. There is still plenty of development to be done in Hudson’s game but he has all of the necessary physical tools to become a dominant player.

Drafting a guy like Hudson allows the Cowboys to build quality depth into their offensive line with the potential of a future starter if Smith can’t bounce back. There is never a bad time to draft an offensive lineman so picking a tackle here makes sense for Dallas.

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