It has been a disappointing stint in Dallas for Mazi Smith ever since he was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Coming into the league, Smith had the rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism that had the Cowboys' top brass salivating, making him the first defensive tackle drafted in the first round by Dallas in over two decades.
Fast forward 2.5 years, and things couldn't have gone worse for Smith. Not only has the former Michigan standout failed to make an impact on the field, but he has also found himself as a part of an organization that has no idea what to do with him.
Cowboys Clearly Unsure of What They Want from Mazi Smith
The last few weeks have been the perfect example of the frustrating Mazi Smith saga in Dallas that is hindering the 24-year-old's development.
On Thursday, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus added to the long list of confusing messages to Smith from the organization. Per The Athletic's Jon Machota, Eberflus discussed what Smith needs to do to get on the field more: "Just consistency. He’s done that, just at a more consistent level. That’s really it. That’s been our message to him throughout the building. He’s improving on that, for sure". Good luck trying to decipher what being more consistently consistent means.
It's not hard to imagine that Smith must be confused about the messaging he gets from the organization if it sounds like this.
This comes on the heels of owner general manager Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer disagreeing on Smith's role in Week 2. Jones said that the team will have the same defensive tackle rotation against the Giants, while Schotty said otherwise.
"Just because you were inactive last week doesn't mean you'll be inactive this week."Brian Schottenheimer
The Dallas HC also defended Smith earlier in the week, revealing that he wasn't ready to give up on the disappointing first-round pick.
All of this suggests that the Cowboys are not aligned in how they see Smith. Schottenheimer and the coaching staff seemingly want to get something out of the defensive tackle, but Jones doesn't seem to be on the same page. If that is the case, why wouldn't the Cowboys look to cut or trade him?
Keeping him as a healthy scratch will only lower any remaining trade value Smith might still hold. The Cowboys could still get some draft capital in return for the defensive lineman if they were to move on from him now. If that is not in the cards, then the team can't waste any more time before putting him out there on the field.