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The Dallas Cowboys made yet another controversial pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, using a fourth-round selection (No. 138 overall) on offensive tackle Josh Ball.
Ball becomes the first offensive player chosen by Dallas in this year’s Draft. The team previously had taken six straight defensive players, a new franchise record. Its updated haul can be found below.
LB Micah Parsons
CB Kelvin Joseph
DL Osa Odighizuwa
DL Chauncey Golston
CB Nahshon Wright
LB Jabril Cox
OT Josh Ball
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Scouting Report
Banished from Florida State following allegations of dating violence, Ball spent the 2018 season at Butler Community College before receiving an offer from Marshall. He made one start for the Thundering Herd in 2019 and eight games in 2020, earning first-team All-CUSA honors. There’s little question as to his physical talent.
“Josh Ball aligned at left tackle for the Thundering Herd offense,” The Draft Network’s Drae Harris wrote. “He displays good overall athleticism and body control in his pass sets. Ball also displays good initial quickness out of his stance and plays with good knee bend, helping him with leverage as such a big-bodied blocker up front. His excellent length and range on the edge make it challenging for rushers to bend and turn the corner on him when he gets good depth in his set. He has good flexibility in his ankles, which helps him anchor and handle the bull rush effectively if defenders try to roll through his frame. Ball demonstrates the lateral agility to redirect on counters and hard inside moves. Although Ball has moments of getting his feet in the neutral zone through leg drive, he’s not a consistent vertical mover in the run game. He may be a little under-bulked but appears to have the frame to add mass as NFL teams feel would be necessary to unlock further potential. Ball could certainly afford to get stronger so that he can anchor better and get stronger with his initial punch. Most notably, he was dismissed from Florida State and the reasons for his departure must be researched throughout the process.”
The real issue concerns Ball’s disturbing history of off-field domestic violence. His dismissal from the Seminoles program stemmed from 11 separate incidents “during which Ball showed aggressive behavior, including physical harm” to the victim, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, who added, “There was also one incident involving a member of the Florida St. football staff.”
Draft experts immediately echoed concerns over Dallas’ pick — one of several with glaring red flags (Parsons, Joseph).
Ball was asked directly about his ultra-checkered past upon being selected by the Cowboys. His answer was … well, cut-and-dry.
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Fit in Dallas
Strictly speaking to his on-field upside, Ball — a towering 6-foot-7, 305 pounds — should function as the Cowboys’ primary swing tackle as a rookie and could see starting reps if LT Tyron Smith goes down again. For now, he should be viewed as the long-term successor to Smith given enough time to develop.
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Follow Zack Kelberman on Twitter: @KelbermanNFL
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