The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive woes have been a glaring issue in recent years, with their interior defensive line resembling a revolving door for opposing rushing attacks. At the heart of this problem lies Mazi Smith, a former first-round pick whose lackluster performance has sparked intense scrutiny. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder didn’t mince words, dubbing Smith the Cowboys’ “worst first-round pick” in the past five years—a damning assessment for a player once heralded as a game-changer.
Selected 26th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan, Smith inked a four-year, $13.27 million rookie contract with sky-high expectations. The 6-foot-3, 337-pound defensive tackle was touted for his rare blend of size, power, and agility, earning the top spot on The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman’s 2022 college football “Freaks” list. Feldman marveled at Smith’s unique athleticism, a trait that had NFL scouts buzzing. His college resume backed up the hype: an All-Big Ten selection in 2022, Smith racked up 49 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery while anchoring Michigan’s defensive line en route to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein drew comparisons to two-time Pro Bowler Dontari Poe, but with a caveat: Smith’s raw talent might tempt a team to overdraft him. That’s precisely what the Cowboys did, making Smith their first first-round defensive tackle since selecting three-time Super Bowl champion Russell Maryland No. 1 overall in 1991. The hope was that Smith would plug the gaping holes in Dallas’ run defense, which ranked a dismal 30th in 2024 with a 48.0 Pro Football Focus (PFF) run-defense grade.
A Disappointing Reality
Fast forward to 2025, and Smith’s tenure in Dallas has been nothing short of a letdown. In his rookie season, he managed just 13 tackles and 1.0 sack across 17 games, starting only three. His 2024 campaign showed marginal improvement, with 41 tackles, 1.0 sack, and 4 tackles for loss while starting all 17 games. However, his impact remained negligible, with just three quarterback hits and no forced fumbles or recoveries over two seasons. PFF’s metrics paint an even bleaker picture: Smith’s 34.7 overall grade in 2024 ranked him 207th out of 219 eligible defensive tackles, marking his second straight year with a sub-48.0 grade.
“Former first-rounder Mazi Smith endured a particularly tough 2024 campaign,” PFF’s Mason Cameron wrote on May 9. “Although Dallas signed Solomon Thomas in free agency, that doesn’t profile as the answer to the Cowboys’ run-defense struggles.”
Holder echoed this sentiment, noting that while 2024 first-round offensive tackle Tyler Guyton has also struggled, Smith’s extended time in the NFL has yielded little progress. “The Michigan product was drafted to help stop the run but has earned run-defense grades in the 30s from Pro Football Focus in his two seasons,” Holder wrote on June 26. “He still looks like a fish out of water.”
Trade Rumors Swirl
With two years left on his $13.2 million contract, Smith’s future in Dallas is increasingly uncertain. His lack of production has made him a prime trade candidate as the 2025 NFL trade deadline approaches. The Cowboys may look to move him to a team desperate for interior defensive line help, hoping to salvage some value before his trade stock plummets further. However, finding a suitor could prove challenging given his abysmal performance metrics.
Zierlein’s pre-draft warning that Smith was a “Day 2 talent with exciting upside” rather than a ready-made starter has proven prophetic. While his physical tools remain tantalizing, his inability to translate them into on-field success has left the Cowboys with a glaring hole in their defense and a costly misstep in their draft history.
A Cautionary Tale
The Cowboys’ gamble on Mazi Smith was rooted in his potential to be a dominant force, but his struggles serve as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in drafting for upside over polish. As Dallas continues to search for answers to bolster their run defense, Smith’s tenure stands as a cautionary tale of unmet expectations. Whether he can turn things around—either in Dallas or elsewhere—remains to be seen, but for now, the $13 million “investment” is shaping up as one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments.