Cowboys draft defense, select Alabama CB Trevon Diggs in second round

Dallas drafts Oklahoma DT Neville Gallimore in the third round

Trevon Diggs suited up for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2019. (Vasha Hunt, Associated Press)

ARLINGTON – After taking wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the first round on Thursday night, the Cowboys decided to open the second round with a splash on defense.

With the 51st overall pick, Dallas selected Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs, bolstering a secondary that finished in the upper echelon of the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (10th, 223.5) last season.

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At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Diggs proved to be a consistent defender with the Crimson Tide in 2019, tallying career-highs in tackles (37, 20 solo), fumble recoveries (2) and interceptions (3). He was tied for the team lead with eight pass-breakups and notched the only pick six of his career, an 84-yarder, in Alabama’s 48-7 demolition of Arkansas on Oct. 26. Diggs became a full-time starter in 2018, but only played half the season due to a broken foot.

“It was amazing," Diggs said. "I was kind of starstruck; you know, that’s Jerry Jones man. It’s just amazing that I’m playing for him. I’m thankful, and I’m happy to be part of the Dallas Cowboys. Words can’t explain how I was feeling. My heart kind of dropped. I was just saying to him that I couldn’t thank him enough. First round, I didn’t go as high as I wanted to, but I ended up where I wanted to go.”

This is the first time the Cowboys have selected a cornerback in the first two rounds since taking Colorado’s Chidobe Awuzie with the 60th overall pick in 2017. Awuzie has recorded three interceptions over the last three seasons in Dallas.

Oklahoma defensive lineman Neville Gallimore (90) plants a University of Oklahoma flag after the Sooners 30-23 overtime win over Baylor in an NCAA college football game for the Big 12 Conference championship, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP)

Dallas continued their defensive theme in the third round with another Sooner, selecting Oklahoma defensive tackle Neville Gallimore with the 82nd overall pick. This is the third time in the last four years that the Cowboys have drafted a defensive lineman in the first three rounds following the selections of Trysten Hill (2019, 58th overall) and Taco Charlton (2017, 28th overall).

As a senior, Gallimore recorded 30 tackles, 7.5 for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 starts en route to third-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-Big 12 honors. He will look to improve a Cowboys defensive line that was 19th in the NFL in sacks (39) last season.