Dallas Cowboys make waves, select Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
With the 26th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Mazi Smith, Defensive Tackle, from University of Michigan. Micah Parson and Demarcus Lawrence should be shouting from the rooftop with this pick.
The Dallas Cowboys put out a lot of rumors during draft season along with a few smoke screens, but they ultimately got the guy they always wanted.
Based on the look inside the Dallas Cowboys war room, it became clear that not everyone was in agreement with the pick, but he is going to wear the star on his helmet when September comes around.
The Dallas Cowboys looked in the mirror long enough to finally accept the run defense was a problem and they addressed it in the first round of the draft.
Smith is a bona fide nose tackle who doesn’t necessarily have to be an immediate starter in his rookie season. He is going to start the season behind Jonathan Hankins, but he may clearly be the best run-stopping defender on the team already.
This is an outstanding athlete for a man his size. He stands 6’3″ 323lbs. Benching 22 reps of 225 will get most people’s attention and it clearly got Dallas’ attention.
Smith is a freak of nature, and he will cause problems for opposing offensive lines. He is ready made to play on the big stage. The Dallas Cowboys defense edge players as well as their linebackers want freedom to chase the ball. They will absolutely get that freedom now in spades.
Smith lives in the B Gap and he will be a fantastic fit next to Osa Odighizuwa. He is not the flashy player that most fans wanted but he is a need that has long been overlooked. Dallas front office had a propensity to wait on this position and try to address it in later rounds. There is clearly a new day in Dallas based on this selection.
The defense has been really good over the last couple of year, but the problem typically pops up in the playoffs. They have a wart that needed to be addressed. The run defense is typically the Achilles heel of this defense, and it was time to use a premium pick on that position.
The Dallas Cowboys now become one of the more potent defensive lines in the league on paper.
Mazi Smith lands in one of the better situations despite being drafted later in the first round. He will start the season as a rotational player but as the season progresses, I fully expect him to move into the starting lineup.
The Dallas Cowboys start this draft with a solid pick for a sneaky need position that will upgrade the defensive tackle room. You can debate the pick, but no one will be able to debate the talent. Really good start to the draft by the Dallas Cowboys.