Cowboys OTAs Preview: More 'Big Hits' in Secondary?

Did the Cowboys once again "beat the cap'' with the drafting of late-round DB Eric Scott Jr.? A look inside OTAs here at The Star ...

FRISCO - The passion that Eric Scott Jr. put on display from the very first moment of his Dallas Cowboys life, on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, cannot be denied. The fact that Dallas created a trade-up to secure the defensive back's services, despite being all the way down into the sixth round, maybe says something as well.

The next big question, part of OTAs DEFENSE WATCH: When will Scott's devotion to the cause, and the Cowboys' opinion of him, manifest itself in snaps on the field? As DallasCowboys.com recently noted, in a sense it already has.

During last week’s OTAs, we noticed starting cornerback Trevon Diggs not working. We noticed backup cornerback Kelvin Joseph spending a lot of time with the safeties. And DallasCowboys.com noticed that Scott spent a moment working with coordinator Dan Quinn's first team on defense. 

Wrote Mickey Spagnola: "(We) sure did see ... the Southern Mississippi cornerback ... getting some first-team reps at right corner opposite veteran Stephon Gilmore. Telling you, keep an eye on this kid.''

Spagnola has been doing this for a long time, so we will indeed do so on Thursday as we get another turn inside The Star in Frisco to watch a workout. At the same time ... 

OTAs OFFENSE WATCH: Dak Back on Track?

OTAs SPECIAL-TEAMS WATCH: Cowboys Talked Trade for Kicker

Did we mention that Diggs was not a part of OTA's last Thursday? And that Joseph might be involved in a position change? And that DaRon Bland, the starting slot corner, would surely get the call ahead of Scott (and a host of others) if this was a game day and not a practice? And that another corner, Jourdan Lewis, is still rehabbing?

To be fair to Scott and the Cowboys, though, they do have a knack here. Much like their obviously recognized penchant for nailing it when it comes to drafting offensive linemen high (see here), the scouting department also does good work on defensive backs when drafting late.

Bland was a fifth-rounder last year. Israel Mukuamu was a sixth-rounder in 2021. Donovan Wilson is a starting safety who got here as a sixth-rounder in 2019. And before that? The hit list includes Xavier Woods (2017 Round 6), Anthony Brown (2016 Round 6), Kavon Frazier (2016 Round 6) and Terrence Mitchell (2014 Round 7)

As we've said before, the way to "beat the cap'' is to "win the draft.'' Dallas is doing that again in its defensive backfield - not to mention having "won the trade'' for starter Stephon Gilmore. Can Eric Scott Jr. serve as the latest late-round Dallas DB success story? Today inside The Star, we will indeed "keep an eye on this kid.''

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Cowboys?Follow FishSports on Twitter

Follow Cowboys / Fish on Facebook

Subscribe to the Cowboys Fish Report on YouTube for constant daily Cowboys live-stream podcasts and reports!