A year ago, the Dallas Cowboys were able to hide their affection for Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith, whom they ended up taking at No. 24 overall. He was not a Dallas Day visitor and they did not put him on their top-30 national visitors list.

Normally, history says the Cowboys' top selection will be among those who have made their way to their facility before the draft.

Since 2005, the Cowboys have used their first pick on a player who was one of the top-30 visitors or a Dallas Day participant all but four times: DeMarcus Ware in 2005, Morris Claiborne in 2012, CeeDee Lamb in 2020 (when no visitors were allowed because of the pandemic), and Smith.

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With that historical tendency as the backdrop, and not the selection of Smith last year, let's look at prospects who were Dallas Day or top-30 visitors as possible picks at No. 26 overall.

 

Wide receiver

Zay Flowers, Boston College

He is a dynamic player and put up numbers with less-than-stellar quarterback play, especially last season when he caught 78 passes for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. He can change direction in an instant. He can run by defenders. He plays bigger than his 5-foot-9, 182-pound frame suggests. He could even do some punt returning if necessary.

Cowboys question: Is he big enough for Mike McCarthy? The head coach's history with the Green Bay Packers suggests Flowers is not (think 6-1 James Jones, 6-0 Greg Jennings, 6-3 Jordy Nelson, 6-1 Davante Adams), but he did have success with 5-10 Randall Cobb, a second-round pick in 2011.

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid on potential fit with Cowboys: I think they already have him on the roster in Brandin Cooks. Very similar to what he brings to the table, but if you want to clone Cooks and get a younger option, I think he would be a great fit. It’s just a matter of whether the Cowboys want to have both of them when they play the same role. It’s kind of oversaturating the position a little.

 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

Since he grew up in Rockwall, Texas, Smith-Njigba counted as a Dallas Day visit. His final year at Ohio State was essentially wiped out by a hamstring injury, but his sophomore year was magical: 95 catches, 1,606 yards, 9 touchdowns. He had 347 receiving yards in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes have developed several recent productive NFL receivers (e.g., Terry McLaurin, Michael Thomas, Garrett Wilson), and Smith-Njigba appears to be the next one.