Dallas Cowboys Encouraged To Move On From Former First Round Pick

In the NFL, the term “first-round pick” comes with a heavy weight of expectation. These players are drafted to be immediate contributors, foundational pieces, and future stars. When a first-round selection fails to meet those expectations, it creates a difficult and often awkward situation for the franchise. This is the exact predicament the Dallas Cowboys now face with defensive tackle Mazi Smith, their top pick from the 2023 NFL Draft.

Dallas Cowboys Mazi Smith: The First-Round Pick Who Can’t Get on the Field

When the Cowboys selected Mazi Smith with the 26th overall pick in 2023, the plan was clear. The team had a glaring need for a powerful, run-stuffing defensive tackle to anchor the middle of their defense. At 6’3″ and 337 pounds, the Michigan product was seen as the perfect 1-technique nose tackle to solve a problem that had plagued the Cowboys for years. His strength and size were supposed to allow linebackers to flow freely to the ball and make the entire defense more formidable against the run.

Fast forward to his third season, and that plan has failed to materialize. Smith’s career in Dallas has been defined by a struggle for playing time and a lack of on-field impact. This year has been particularly telling. Smith was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the 2025 season, a shocking status for a former first-round pick who is not injured. Even when he has been active in recent weeks, his role has been minimal, playing just 18 defensive snaps in Week 3 and 15 in Week 4.

For a player drafted to be a cornerstone, being relegated to a handful of snaps per game is a clear indictment of his development and his fit within the defensive scheme. The Cowboys’ coaching staff, both the previous and current regimes, have been unable to find a consistent role for him. This lack of trust and playing time has fueled speculation that his long-term value to the organization is rapidly diminishing.

Why Hasn’t It Worked Out for Smith in Dallas?

Several factors have contributed to Mazi Smith’s inability to secure a significant role with the Cowboys.

Poor Fit in the Defensive Scheme

While drafted to be a traditional nose tackle, the Cowboys’ defensive philosophy under both Dan Quinn and Mike Zimmer has prioritized speed, agility, and versatility along the defensive line. Smith, a pure power and size player, has not shown the quickness or pass-rushing ability to thrive in a system that asks its linemen to be disruptive and attack gaps. His skill set seems mismatched with the team’s defensive identity.

Failure to Develop

Beyond the scheme fit, Smith has simply not developed as the team had hoped. He has struggled to translate his college dominance into NFL production. While his rookie year was seen as a learning experience, his inability to earn a role in his second and third seasons suggests a stalled development curve. He has not shown significant improvement in his technique, hand usage, or ability to shed blocks at the professional level.

A New Regime’s Priorities

It’s also important to consider the impact of coaching changes. Smith was drafted by a previous defensive staff. While the need for a run-stuffer remains, the current coaching regime, led by Matt Eberflus, may have different priorities and player preferences. With no personal investment in Smith as a draft pick, the new staff is more likely to prioritize players who fit their system best, regardless of draft status. This reality has pushed Smith further down the depth chart.

Cutting Losses: What a Trade Could Look Like

The argument for trading Mazi Smith is rooted in the idea of “cutting your losses.” It is clear that he is not a fit in Dallas. Instead of letting him occupy a valuable roster spot with minimal contribution, trading him would allow the Cowboys to recoup some value and give Smith a chance to reboot his career elsewhere.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has been a vocal proponent of this idea, suggesting that while the return would be disappointing, it is better than nothing. “While the Cowboys wouldn’t get much in return for Smith, they could get something,” Knox wrote. “The Michigan product is a 6’3″, 337-pound 24-year-old who could interest teams seeking a developmental interior defender.”

What would that “something” be? Given his struggles and high draft status, a trade would be a bitter pill for the Cowboys to swallow. A realistic return would likely be a late-round draft pick, perhaps a sixth-rounder as Knox suggests. While this is a far cry from the first-round capital used to select him, it is a tangible asset that the team could use to add talent in the future. Holding onto Smith, only to see him continue to be a healthy scratch or a minor role player, provides no return on investment at all.

A Fresh Start for Both Sides

A trade would not only benefit the Cowboys but could also be the best thing for Mazi Smith’s career.

For the Cowboys

Trading Smith would free up a roster spot and allow the team to move on from a draft pick that has not worked out. It would provide closure and allow the front office and coaching staff to focus their resources on players who are contributing. The acquired draft pick, however late, could be used to draft a player who is a better schematic fit or to add depth at another position of need.

For Mazi Smith

For Smith, a change of scenery could be career-saving. A trade would send him to a team that specifically wants his skill set. A team that runs a 3-4 defense or a system that utilizes a traditional, space-eating nose tackle would be a much better fit for him. In a new environment, free from the pressure of his first-round status in Dallas, he could focus on his development and potentially thrive. At just 24 years old, he still has time to become a productive NFL player, but it is increasingly clear that it is unlikely to happen in a Cowboys uniform.

Conclusion

The decision to trade a recent first-round pick is never an easy one. It is an admission of a mistake in evaluation and a failure in development. However, stubbornly holding onto a player who clearly does not fit is an even bigger mistake. The Dallas Cowboys find themselves at this crossroads with Mazi Smith. His inability to earn a consistent role, his status as a healthy scratch, and his poor fit in the defensive scheme all point to one logical conclusion: it’s time to move on.

Executing a Dallas Cowboys trade of Mazi Smith would be a difficult but pragmatic move. It would allow the team to recoup a small asset, free up a roster spot, and close the book on a disappointing chapter. More importantly, it would give a young player a much-needed fresh start in a system better suited to his talents. The Mazi Smith era in Dallas has been a failure, and the wisest course of action now is to cut their losses and let both parties move in a new direction.