With the 2024 NFL season trending in the wrong direction, Dallas Cowboys fans hoped to see an active performance from owner/general manager Jerry Jones at the trade deadline. Instead of improving their Super Bowl odds with blockbuster splashes, the Cowboys kept things quiet with their sole move being sending a fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for wideout Jonathan Mingo.
Without any major additions, the Cowboys must rely on what they have to end the campaign on a high note. While certain players have done a good job of meeting expectations, others have left much to be desired throughout the year and now their future in Dallas could be in jeopardy because of that fact.
With that being said, here are five Cowboys who are still on thin ice after the deadline.
1. Mazi Smith, DT
The Cowboys had extremely high hopes for Mazi Smith when they drafted him 26th overall in 2023. The former Michigan defensive tackle had the perfect size to be a starting defender in the NFL and the expectation was that he could patrol Dallas' D-line for years to come.
Unfortunately, Smith's rookie campaign was met with a lot of disappointment. The Southfield, MI native failed to look like a Day 1 selection more often than not in his first NFL season, however, the Cowboys were hoping that defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's offseason signing would be the key to unlocking Smith's potential.
Fast forward to Week 10 when Cowboys fans are still waiting for the 23-year-old DT to prove that he has the "it factor" that they've been waiting to see. Smith has only registered 11 solo tackles without a sack despite playing 49% of defensive snaps. He's struggling to be the run-stopper that Dallas needs, highlighted by his 28.5 run defense grade on Pro Football Focus — the worst mark among interior defenders.
No matter how the Cowboys deploy him, Smith is struggling to prove that he deserves starting minutes. His abysmal positioning and inconsistent tackling are big factors in why Dallas has struggled to stop the run all season long.
If Smith fails to display his first-round potential down the stretch, the Cowboys might want to start re-thinking his future with the franchise this offseason.
2. Ezekiel Elliott, RB
Based on how the 2024 season has unfolded, it'd be surprising if any NFL team is willing to give Ezekiel Elliott a chance next year.
After opting not to target the likes of Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley, the Cowboys reunited with Elliott this offseason after a brief run with the New England Patriots. Even though the veteran running back's best days are clearly in the rearview, Jones & Co. figured that the ex-Ohio State product could still be serviceable as head coach Mike McCarthy's lead back.
As many people predicted, Elliott has been a shell of his former self. He's looked rather pedestrian more often than not, tallying only 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 48 carries while catching another seven balls for 70 more yards. Not only is he averaging a career-worst 3.1 yards per carry, too, but he's also yet to rush for more than 40 yards in a game.
With Elliott's dud performances piling up, the Cowboys made the veteran RB a healthy scratch for the first time in his career in Week 9. The decision ended up paying off as Rico Dowdle amassed 107 scrimmage yards and a TD while Dallas finished with a season-high 137 rushing yards as a team.
Addition by subtraction is a real thing and the Cowboys proved that by ridding their lineup of Elliott last week. As great as he was during his first run with Dallas, it's clear that the 29-year-old runner is no longer good enough to hold down a consistent NFL role.
Unless he magically turns back the clock and looks like himself from five years ago, Elliott is likely playing with the Cowboys on borrowed time.
3. Jalen Brooks, WR
With Brandin Cooks on the injured reserve, the Cowboys have needed the rest of their wideout room — outside of CeeDee Lamb — to step up. While Jalen Tolbert has had a few solid performances in Cook's absence, that hasn't been the case for fellow receiver Jalen Brooks.
The former South Carolina product's hands have proven to be unreliable early in the year as he's only caught 7-of-20 targets (35.0%) through eight games. It'd be one thing if he was making the most of his limited opportunities but that hasn't been the case as Brooks is only averaging 12.9 receiving yards per game and has yet to find the end zone.
What's even more frustrating is that it's not as if he isn't getting chances to play. Brooks has played at least 41 offensive snaps in each of his last three appearances, however, he only has three catches for 41 receiving yards to show for it during that stretch.
With Cooks nearing a return to practice and Mingo now joining the fold, Brooks could be due for a diminished role in the near future. It's going to take some fairly noteworthy performances if he wants to prove that he belongs in the Cowboys' passing plans going forward.
4. Zack Martin, OG
There's no denying what Zack Martin has accomplished throughout his illustrious NFL career. The former Notre Dame blocker has been one of the league's best guards since being drafted 16th overall by the Cowboys in 2014, proven by his being named All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl in nine of his 10 previous seasons.
Unfortunately, players begin to decline when they reach a certain age and that appears to be happening with Dallas' 33-year-old fan favorite. After earning a reputation for being one of the NFL's top guards, Martin played to 64.2 pass block (35th) and 60.0 run block (51st) grades in the first half of the season.
For reference, he finished the 2023 campaign with PFF grades of 75.1 and 62.3, respectively.
Cowboys fans knew that Martin couldn't remain elite forever, but his declining play has been a factor in his team's struggles to run the ball this year. Dallas' offensive line is also relatively young, meaning the veteran guard can't afford to add to the list of mistakes that his younger teammates are already making.
The 2025 season marks the final year of Martin's contract, leaving time to tell if he'll choose to play another season or hang up his cleats. If he's leaning toward the latter and wants to finish his career in Dallas, he must find a way to get back to blocking at a high level.
5. Deuce Vaughn, RB
Deuce Vaughn is one player who Cowboys fans hoped to see step up amid the team's backfield issues to begin the season. Unfortunately, he's been on the same page as Elliott when it comes to lackluster production.
Vaughn struggled to produce early in the season, recording a measly 20 rushing yards on seven carries in his first four games. The forgettable performance led to the 23-year-old RB being inactive for all three of the Cowboys' games played in October. While he did return to the lineup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, he may as well have been invisible considering that he only logged three special teams snaps.
With veteran runner Dalvin Cook slowly gaining more opportunities each week, it's hard to figure out where Vaughn fits in. He won't overtake Cook or Dowdle for more playing time, meaning he'll likely need someone to be injured to move up the pecking order.
Even though Vaughn is still under contract through 2026, it's clear that he must be better if he wants to stay with the franchise. After all, an offseason divorce won't cost the Cowboys much since they'll only be hit with a $33,334 dead cap charge if they trade or waive the struggling runner after June 1, 2025, per Spotrac.