Past Cowboys’ draft interests could give hints to who they may try to add to their roster

Cutdown day in the NFL has become it’s own glorified phenomenon each year just like the Combine or free agency. However, the real party is the when teams start wheeling and dealing on the waiver wires and making trades. Former Cowboys’ scout Bryan Broaddus says that Cowboys VP Will McClay compares it to drafting all over again.

In many ways, that’s a pretty good analogy to compare it to but it also brings to mind that old cliché of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. So, looking back at some of the Cowboys 30 visits and draft boards over the last few years, there were some familiar names in there that found themselves released on Saturday. There’s got to be a few players that the Cowboys would surely be interested in. Here are a couple of guys that the Cowboys seemed to be interested in at one time or another:

Xavier Cooper, DT, Jets (2015 Draft)

Cooper was a private workout for the Cowboys back in 2015 and was drafted by the Browns in the third round. The problem with Cooper is that he’s just been cut by his third team in three seasons. Cooper has played in 40 career games but has only made two starts. His production isn’t much to write home about either with 56 tackles and only three sacks. Entering his fourth season, there is still time for him to make something of his NFL career and Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli loves to get his hands on a project.

Darian Thompson, S, Giants (2016 Draft)

Thompson was drafted in the third round two seasons ago which was exactly where the Cowboys thought he was draftable too. He started all 16 games at free safety for the Giants last season and had 75 tackles and an interception. Thompson was plagued this training camp with a tight hamstring which left the door cracked for Curtis Riley to take his job. The Cowboys really need safety help but Thompson won’t be much help if he’s not healthy. At the same time, Thompson just may the best option that’s currently available.

Connor Cook, QB, Raiders (2016 Draft)

Remember when the Cowboys tried to trade up in the 2016 NFL Draft to try and get Cook but were leap-frogged by the Raiders? Well, it worked out for the Cowboys because they ended up with Dak Prescott later in the round. Cook is coming off a pretty bad preseason which puts him in the same boat with the two backup quarterbacks already on the Cowboys roster. The Cowboys would be better served by signing another Raiders release in EJ Manuel, who completed 71.4% of his preseason passes and has mobility in the pocket. If the Cowboys are still fond of Connor Cook, who they had as a second round grade on, they can go after him.

Corey Coleman, WR, Bills (2016 Draft)

The Cowboys had Coleman pegged as a second-rounder but he went halfway through the first round. Coleman was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns but broke his hand once in his rookie season then broke it again in his second year. Coleman was traded to the Bills last month but failed to make the roster. At one point, Coleman was talked about as one of the best receivers in his class. The Cowboys may be interested in him seeing as they were so high on him before. In 19 career games played, he has 56 receptions for 718 yards, and five touchdowns.

Jeremiah Poutasi, OG, Broncos (2015 Draft)

Poutasi was one of the Cowboys private workouts from 2015 but he was drafted much higher than anticipated. The Cowboys thought of Poutasi as a late fifth-rounder but he went 63rd overall in the third round. He was only on the Titans roster for a calendar year but failed to make the team and was cut in 2016. He spent the 2017 season on and off the Jaguar practice squad, then bounced to the Rams practice squad before landing with Denver late last season. Poutasi only has 12 career games played but has started eight of them.