The Cowboys are using their first-round pick to shore up their defensive line. With the No. 26 pick, Dallas has selected Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
With the way the draft board was shaking out, many assumed the Cowboys may use their first-round selection on a tight end to replace Dalton Schultz. However, the Bills traded up ahead of Dallas to select Dalton Kincaid, and while Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer was still on the board, the Cowboys opted to take a defender instead.
They ultimately landed on Smith, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors following a 2022 campaign that saw him compile 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a half-sack. Thanks to his performance, the prospect was certain to hear his name called during one of the first two rounds, with scouts loving his size and quickness but raising an eyebrow at his consistency.
Ultimately, this will be an upside pick for Dallas, and the team has plenty of defensive line depth to bring Smith along slowly. It’ll be interesting to see whether the rookie settles in as a defensive tackle or nose tackle, but for the time being, he’ll find himself in the mix with the recently re-signed Johnathan Hankins and rookie-contract presence Osa Odighizuwa on the Dallas D-tackle depth chart.
I’d have gone TE, but I also don’t get paid big bucks to make these calls…
Didn’t record alot of sacks, but is a very solid DT that has been getting more and more recognition as the draft process has gone on..
I’m honestly surprised they didn’t target a TE here, but maybe they have a guy they’re targeting a little later.
They annually get run over in the playoffs. This is a position of need. At 26 its a solid pick.
Typical overreach by the Cowgirls. Could have gotten Smith later in the draft as he was projected to go late 3rd, early 4th round and only has a projected upside of a depth player. TE, and CB were a much bigger need that could’ve been filled here.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. The consensus was he’d be picked between 28 and 37. Generally had a 1st/2nd round grade on everyone’s big boards. You can hate all you want but you better bring some truth with your statements.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. The consensus was that he would be picked between 28 and 37. Generally speaking most people had him as a 1st/2nd grade on their draft boards. I don’t mind if you hate, but bring some truth to your statements.
The consensus was that he would be picked between 28 and 37. Generally speaking most people had him as a 1st/2nd grade on their draft boards. I don’t mind if you hate, but bring some truth to your statements.
The consensus was that he would be picked between 28 and 37. Generally speaking most people had him as a 1st/2nd grade on their draft boards. I don’t mind the hate, but bring some truth to your statements.
You can say that again!
Reportedly the Chiefs intended to take him at 31.
Spoken like someone that watches ESPN and doesn’t know their team lol. TE was never going to happen in the 1st round.. Dallas likes what they have in Ferguson and Hendershot enough TE wasn’t worth it. Any corner taken would have been 4th on the depth chart this season at best behind Diggs, Gilmore and Bland/Lewis in the slot.
Where did you see Smith as a 4th round projection? Drafttek.com has him listed as the top NT in the draft? Based on the “Cowgirls” I’ll guess your post is hate not fact based?
Probably got it from an Eagles fan on Twitter
You are not the brightest bulb in the chandelier huh?
I come here for insight in the comments. This is TE heavy draft, they can get a good one later. Getting constantly pounded up the middle for big gains might acceptable for Dallas fans I think dms hit the nail on the head.
That’s exactly what I thought. They need help with their run D and this gets them that. They can get a decent TE in the 2nd or 3rd–apparently there are lots of them
Good pick. A solid TE can be had in the second or 3rd round.
Yeah this was a position they desperately needed. Just someone to stop the run, period. TE can come later, so I hope to see a guard come with the next pick.
I see him as a worse version of D Tomlinson, who was selected at the back end of the 2nd round. If you want a run stuffer wait until the 3rd or so and take Ika from Baylor. Should’ve traded back if they were adamant about taking Mazi and got him in the 2nd instead of reaching. If they couldn’t trade back, they should’ve gone with a more impactful defenseman (Edge, LB, CB). There wasn’t a guard there I liked enough to take so glad they waited on that. Same with TEs, there are a lot still they can take later on.
Smith was going off the board in the next 10 picks anyway. If you like the player and want him you don’t trade back and risk losing them over for a 4th or 5th round selection.
Agreed. Word on the street was he would be gone no later than 31st pick.
The point is he was not good value for the selection. Again if they were wanting a run stuffer, they could’ve gotten Ika in the 3rd just like I said he was going to go. There were some good Edge, LB, CB, & G
Ika went in the 3rd because he’s a significantly worse prospect than Smith. He’s not capable of stepping into the starting lineup today and plugging that hole the way Smith is. The problem with your stance is honestly it’s pretty narcistic lol. You’re pretending since you think your guy you wanted was higher ranked in your mind it makes the other player a bad value when that’s just not true. Mazi was always going to get drafted in this range and if there was a team that wanted him this was right around where they were going to have to do it.
And you thinking you can read other peoples minds makes you narcistic. I never said I had Ika ranked over Mazi, because I didn’t. Simply put, I believe Dallas needed a run stuffer and could’ve done that with a later pick in Ika who could’ve provided that. They then could’ve used the 1st on someone better than Mazi and taken one of the best players available instead of drafting solely based on position. Porter, Nolan, etc were players the Cowboys could use that most people, as well as myself, had ranked over Mazi.
I’m not reading your mind.. I’m reading your words. Mazi was the only run stuffer available at this point in the draft with the ability to step into the starting lineup today.
None of that makes Mazi a bad value though.. That’s where you’re letting your own personal stuff get in the way. Maybe there were other players on the board rated higher at other positions. Mazi and a TE were still the only ones with any chance to start this season. Cowboys went with the best player available for this team like it or not.
Best case for Nolan Smith this season would have been 4th or 5th on the depth chart. Best case for Porter would have been the same. Neither of these players were going to help the 2023 Cowboys.
Whatever. He wasn’t the best player available. Overall or for Dallas.
He’s also an undersized workout warrior from one of the most talented college defense every built that saw his combine numbers launch him from bottom of the 1st round to Top10-15 consideration based on measurables. His talent on tape and performance was always right in this range. The hype made him more.
Once Maher is gone there’s no reason for the Cowboys to draft a tight end. He’d be a difference maker and security blanket for Prescott who panics under pressure. The rest of the tight ends are merely serviceable just like Ferguson and Hendershot. Cowboys missed an opportunity to make Dak a top 25 qb.