Through the first half of the season, the Dallas Cowboys' defense has yet to find its identity, continuing to struggle against the run and the pass. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has come under fire for the unit’s struggles, but he is the team’s third DC in three years. The problem may be a lack of skill, particularly on the defensive line.
The Cowboys' 2023 draft class has been much maligned for the lack of production coming from the team’s picks. Only three of the team’s seven picks currently remain on the team, including tight end Luke Schoonmaker and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. The team's first-round pick from that year has been the biggest disappointment of them all, and now, it’s time to move on for good.
It's Time for Cowboys to Trade Mazi Smith
Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones needs to be exploring trades for defensive tackle Mazi Smith before it’s too late.
At the time of his selection, the Cowboys’ front office drafted Smith in hopes that he would bolster the team’s struggling run defense in the interior of the defensive line. However, things got awkward from the jump in his time in Dallas, even though it was clear that he'd always be a project pick.
Smith came into the draft at around 330 pounds, something that apparently the Cowboys’ front office was seemingly against despite taking him 27th overall. He was then asked to cut about 30 pounds in hopes of him maximizing his potential and adding explosive pass rush ability in addition to his run-stopping skill. However, he did neither at a high level and is now back at his natural weight, having struggled to make any impact on this team in the last two and a half seasons.
It's obvious that the Cowboys made a mistake. They’ve quietly acknowledged as such as well. The only plausible thing to do now is hope there is a team out there willing to take a chance on the talent that came out of the University of Michigan. NFL franchises love the idea of salvaging one team’s “bust” into their “gold.” Whether it may be a difference in scheme or simply a new culture, Smith could be an ideal move for a team looking to beef up its defensive line depth.
If the Cowboys decide to move on from Smith, though, they should do it sooner rather than later. It’s hard to imagine Smith’s trade value increasing between now and the offseason, so Dallas should be looking to maximize whatever there is left of his value. On top of that, the idea of teams pursuing Smith in the offseason when free agents are available is far-fetched.
The Cowboys clearly missed on Smith over two years ago and might’ve slowed the future progression of the franchise. There’s not much the team can do at this point but try and receive anything of value for his services on a rebuilding defense.