The Dallas Cowboys’ defense has given them too many reasons to worry, and a new 2027 NFL mock draft points straight at the secondary as the place to start fixing things.
In Justin Melo’s latest mock for NFL Draft on SI, Dallas uses its first-round pick on Georgia cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, a move aimed at shoring up a pass defense that has been exposed all season. The Cowboys enter Week 9 with the league’s worst total defense at 385.4 yards allowed per game, and they sit No. 22 against the pass.
That kind of production leaves little room to ignore the back end, especially with Christian Parker appearing to be in over his head as defensive coordinator and the roster still lacking enough talent around the field. The situation is made even trickier by the fact that Dallas will not have its highest of two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, limiting its chances to land a top-tier difference-maker.
Melo sees Robinson as a player who could help immediately if the Cowboys decide to move on from former All-Pro DaRon Bland this offseason. He wrote, “The Dallas Cowboys are still struggling on defense despite the injection of rookie talent,” and added, “DaRon Bland has particularly struggled at cornerback. Georgia's Ellis Robinson IV is a supremely athletic cornerback who is versatile enough to thrive in both man and zone coverage.”
Robinson’s production backs up the buzz. This season, he has 15 combined tackles, five passes defensed. and two interceptions, after posting a career-high four interceptions last season. He’s been climbing draft boards, and if Dallas is still picking in the 20s, he would give the team a valuable option in a secondary that badly needs help.
The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled for Thursday, April 29, through Saturday, May 1, at the National Mall outside of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
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