As America's Team prepares to welcome the New York Giants to AT&T Stadium in Week 2, Dallas Cowboys fans are wondering if they'll see any of Mazi Smith in the home opener. The third-year defensive tackle was a healthy scratch in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, making it clear that head coach Brian Schottenheimer doesn't have a ton of faith in the former first-rounder despite alluding otherwise.
It's a new week, though, meaning another opportunity for Smith to make his 2025 season debut. At least, that appeared to be the case until Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones made his weekly 105.3 The Fan appearance on Tuesday to reveal that Schottenheimer & Co. "will go with the same look at DT this week," per ESPN's Todd Archer.
Cowboys Should End Mazi Smith Experiment After Jerry Jones' Comments
Assuming the Cowboys do maintain the status quo on the defensive line this weekend, Smith is looking at back-to-back healthy scratches to begin the season. No matter how it's sliced, that isn't a good look for any former first-round talent, and the fact that Jones made sure to compliment 2025 seventh-round pick Jay Toia shows just how far Smith has slid down the depth chart.
Matt Eberflus is the third NFL defensive coordinator Smith has played under in as many seasons, and it's clear that not even a new DC is helping the latter realize his potential. Every new hire makes it clear that Smith needs a fresh start, which is why the Cowboys should entertain such a move if he isn't in the coaching staff's plans.
There comes a point when teams must give up on a player, and that's where the Cowboys stand with Smith. He can't improve if he doesn't play meaningful games, but he also shouldn't suit up for those contests if he can't handle his assignments. It's a paradox Dallas can only entertain for so long.
If Dallas wants to pull the plug immediately, cutting Smith would free up $1.9 million in cap space while taking on matching $1.6 million dead cap penalties in 2025 and 2026, per Spotrac. The Cowboys could also try trading him before the Nov. 5 trade deadline if they want to get a draft pick back for him, or a potential swap for another player ready for a fresh start.
The Cowboys knew Smith would be a project situation when he was drafted 26th overall in 2023, but his development has gone slower than expected. The ex-Michigan Wolverine floundered as a rookie before failing to make significant improvements in Year 2, leaving the Dallas faithful hopeful that he'd find his stride this year.
Instead, the only thing he's found is himself on the sidelines and, potentially, out of the Cowboys' future plans.