Stephen A. Smith is Backing Dallas Cowboys to Top NFC East; Here’s Why

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys entered the 2021 NFL Draft with one idea in mind – defensive improvement. The NFC East old boys suffered a disappointing end to their 1st campaign under Mike McCarthy in 2020.

In the absence of Dak Prescott, the Cowboys finished 3rd in their division with a 6-10 record, above rivals Philadelphia Eagles. The likes of DeMarcus Lawrence and Jaylen Smith endured difficult outings all throughout the regular.

The Cowboys owned the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. They were rumored to be interested in star TE Kyle Pitts, but they focused on defense by bringing in Penn State’s Micah Parsons.

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Stephen A. Smith backs Micah Parsons to shine for Dallas Cowboys

Popular American analyst Stephen A. Smith featured on the latest episode of ESPN’s First Take. He is a self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys critic. But even they had to admit that the Texas-based organization is the favorite to win the NFC East in 2021.

“Micah Parsons is the real deal. And the fact that the Cowboys got that brother. I think their defense is going to be vastly improved and I think that it’s going to make DeMarcus Lawrence better. I think it’s going to make Jaylen Smith better….their defense will improve.

“And I think Ezekiel Elliott knows that he had a down year because there was no ‘Dak quarterbacking’. So as a result, they can stack the line of scrimmage…

“I think when you look at the Dallas Cowboys I definitely think that no team in the league has improved, no team in the division I’m sorry, has improved more than them, I’m sick over it,” Smith said on the show.

After sustaining a compound ankle fracture in Week 5 against New York Giants, Dak Prescott is in line to return for the Cowboys this season.

He underwent successful surgery and is expected to feature extensively for Dallas, especially after signing his 4-year extension.

Apart from Parsons, the Cowboys drafted CB Kelvin Joseph, DT Osa Odighizuwa, and CB Nahshon Wright as well. With a new-look defense and an all-firing offense, Mike McCarthy’s boys are serious contenders for the NFC crown.

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