The 2025 NFL draft is almost here as the offseason kicks into overdrive. The Dallas Cowboys will spend the next several days planning out the perfect draft strategy to give head coach Brian Schottenheimer his best shot at success in Year 1 of his contract.
The arrival of rookie players can sometimes put pressure on veterans — especially those who've recently underperformed. After all, the presence of a rookie can sometimes be the type of kick in the pants a returning veteran needs to get his career back on track.
The Cowboys have a certain defender whose job is in jeopardy this offseason, and it wouldn't be shocking if owner/general manager Jerry Jones is eyeing a potential replacement in the draft.
Cowboys DT Mazi Smith on Thin Ice Before 2025 NFL Draft
Even though the Cowboys have had plenty of recent draft success, there are a few duds mixed in with the studs. One of the team's recent picks who's left much to be desired to begin his NFL career is none other than third-year defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
Enamored by his performance with the Michigan Wolverines, the Cowboys drafted Smith with the 2023 draft's 26th overall selection. He was expected to be a project pick at the time despite his potential, meaning there was a good chance the Southfield, MI native wouldn't be making an immediate impact.
A combination of playing out of position and significant weight loss led to an uninspiring rookie season as Smith tallied nine solo tackles and a sack in 17 games (3 starts). He also finished the year with the 18th-worst defense grade (47.2) among 130 interior defenders on Pro Football Focus.
Cowboys fans were hopeful that Smith could rebound in Year 2 after defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was replaced by Mike Zimmer. Although the change led to the 23-year-old DT recording a career-high 22 solo tackles while starting all 17 outings, he still finished with only one sack while also finishing with the second-worst PFF grade at his position (34.8).
Fast forward to the upcoming 2025 campaign when Smith will be playing under his third DC (Matt Eberflus) in as many seasons. It wouldn't be surprising if Eberflus, Schottenheimer, and the rest of the coaching staff were ready to move on from Smith; one of the last regime's project players.
With 10 upcoming draft picks (including three in the top 76), the Cowboys will have more than enough chances to replace Smith next week. Drafting another high-upside DT is a smart practice, even if Dallas only wants to provide its struggling run-stopper with training camp competition.
At the end of the day, the Cowboys must decide if Smith is a part of their plans going forward. Time is ticking on his rookie contract, and it might make more sense to move on from him sooner rather than later if they don't view him as a defensive cornerstone.