Cowboys ‘Draft Steal’ Rookie Pushing the Starters?

The Dallas Cowboys may have struck gold on Day 3 of the NFL Draft yet again by selecting the sixth-round cornerback Eric Scott Jr. out of Southern Mississippi.

During minicamp, Scott Jr. impressed Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn so much that the newcomer ran with the first-team defense in the absence of some of the presumed cornerback starters, such as 2021 All-Pro Trevon Diggs. CowboysSI.com observed Scott's work and visited with him in the locker room; Dallas really might have something there ... And the national media is picking up on this, too. Nearing training camp, Bleacher Report recently declared Scott Jr., a "Rookie to Watch." 

"Eric Scott Jr. isn't likely to crack the starting lineup for the Cowboys, but he earned the attention of Quinn with the way he stepped up in OTAs," BR said. "Scott has a lot of work to do, but it will be interesting to see if he can climb the depth chart after standing out early."

BR is making quite a leap here; Scott isn't on a level with Diggs or Stephon Gilmore or DaRon Bland; we're probably talking about him fighting for a uniform on Sundays so he can play special teams. But that will still mark an accomplishment.

In what was widely considered to be the deepest cornerback class in years, it was inevitable that some prospects would outperform their draft pedigree. Though Southern Mississippi isn't considered a blue-chip powerhouse like Diggs' alma mater Alabama, with PFF reporting that Scott Jr. only allowed 18 receptions on 306 coverage snaps, it's sensible that Dallas was willing to trade up and select him.

While a sixth-round draft pick like Scott Jr. may seem like a long shot to crack the starting roster of a Super Bowl contender like the Cowboys, it's worth noting that just last year, the Seattle Seahawks selected cornerback Tariq Woolen on Day 3. He became a Pro Bowler his rookie season, and his contributions helped their playoff turnaround.

Practicing alongside Diggs and former Defensive Player of The Year Stephon Gilmore, during training camp could benefit Scott Jr. as he looks to continue his ascension on Dallas' depth chart and assert himself as this year's Woolen. ... or at the very least follow in the Cowboys footsteps of other recent late-round DBs - Anthony Brown, Kavon Frazier, Xavier Woods, Donovan Wilson, Israel Mukuamu and Bland - by making the team.