While the dust is still settling from the Dallas Cowboys’ roster moves, one decision that appears etched in 2025 stone is the return of defensive tackle Mazi Smith. This has drawn criticism throughout sectors of Cowboys Nation, but should it really have come as a surprise? Smith being a former first-round pick does matter, and the team’s history of dealing with them shows how this third season should’ve never really been in doubt.
Frustration with where Smith is at this point in his career is natural and appropriate. Rest assured, the front office and coaching staff share it. But even with an overhauled defensive staff under Matt Eberflus, the notion that Smith might not make the roster ahead of just his third NFL season was shaky at best. When we discussed the biggest surprises from Dallas’ recent roster moves, Smith’s continued presence didn’t make the list.
Things got especially hot against Smith during a brief period on Tuesday when it was reported that DT Perrion Winfrey was released. This turned out to be false, but it set off a wave of criticism of how Smith would make the team over one of the standout performers from the summer. Others have suggested that seventh-round rookie Jay Toia is more deserving of a roster spot than Smith, despite not having a particularly strong camp or preseason himself.
In the end, all three made the initial roster along with veterans Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas. We’ll see if the Cowboys add more DT talent from trades or free agency in the coming days, and who gets cut to make room for them. That could bring us back to this conversation of Smith versus Toia or Winfrey quickly.
The level of first-round frustration we’ve reached with Mazi Smith is rare in Dallas. We hit on these picks far more often than not. By the time they’ve reached their third and fourth seasons, the debate is usually about when to give them their second contracts as opposed to whether or not they’ll even get one. Tyler Smith, Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Byron Jones, Zack Martin, Travis Frederick, Tyron Smith, Dez Bryant; it’s been a good run. Even Leighton Vander Esch, whose only sins were health-related, shouldn’t fall into the bust category.
But yes, and their names are already coming to your mind, there have been some failures along the way. But even in the worst of those cases, they all made the roster in their third seasons. Let’s run through them.
DE Taco Charlton in 2019
The closest thing we’ve seen to the Mazi Smith situation in a long time, Charlton probably doesn’t make the roster in his third season if not for injury and other issues at defensive end. He didn’t last long, getting released in mid-September to make room for Robert Quinn’s return from suspension.
What makes Charlton different from Smith is that there was a publicly known rift between him and the coaching staff, particularly defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. Charlton being in the doghouse was reported on, and he made his own frustrations known through social media. We haven’t seen anything like that coming in either direction between Smith and the current regime, or previous ones. That had far more to do with Charlton’s early undoing than his lack of accomplishments on the field.
CB Morris Claiborne in 2014
We remember Claiborne so unfondly because of Dallas trading up in 2012 to take him sixth overall. But even with his issues, he still played five seasons here before finally moving on. Even after an injury-plagued second season, there was no doubt he’d be part of the team in 2014. He played out his rookie contract and got a one-year, make-or-break opportunity to return in 2016. Things never went well with Claiborne, but it took way longer than two years for the team to finally cut bait.
CB Mike Jenkins in 2010
Another guy who struggled with injuries, Jenkins was actually a Pro Bowl alternate in his second season. It’s easy to forget that, though, as he was off the team just three years later and didn’t do much else in his career. Jenkins fell out of favor after struggles in the 2009 playoff loss to the Vikings, then the following two seasons with play and health issues. His decline was part of what prompted the big move for Morris Claiborne in 2012. But for as bad as it went from there, he went into Year 3 on a relative high.
RB Felix Jones in 2010
The Cowboys’ other first-round pick in 2008, Jones was never given much chance to live up to that draft status. He was taken to be a speedy complement to the bruising Marion Barber, and later got passed on the depth chart by DeMarco Murray. But it took five years before Dallas finally pulled the plug,
LB Bobby Carpenter in 2008
Some called him “Bo Carp.” Others called him “Barbie.” But nobody’s ever called him a good use of a draft pick. As much as Carpenter struggled, though, he lasted four years in Dallas before finally getting traded away to the Rams. Going into his third season, Carpenter had only started one game and was falling out of favor. But he remained in a backup role for two more years, even after his biggest advocate, Bill Parcells, moved on.
We could keep going from here. Other ill-remembered first-round picks like DE Ebenezer Ekuban, TE David LaFleur, and DE Shante Carver got at least four seasons with the team. And this is all over a 30-year period, spanning six different head coaches and all the coordinator and assistant changes along the way. Even the front office, with Jerry Jones as the constant feature, has morphed throughout that time with Stephen Jones’ increasing influence and the comings and goings of guys like Jeff Ireland and Will McClay.
This shows you how coaches and executives generally loathe admitting failure on first-round picks. That’s why even the worst of them often see the end of their rookie contracts, and perhaps even get a last chance in Year 5. Even in Dallas, where the general manager has no fear about his job security, they want to maintain a good reputation for how they use these premium draft assets.
We’ll grant you that Mazi Smith’s first two seasons have been about as unproductive as possible, especially compared to other guys we’ve mentioned here. But there was only one case, with Taco-flavored character issues, that any of them didn’t at least make it through their third season. And given the lack of clear talent behind him at DT, particularly in the way of big-bodied guys to help against the run, Smith didn’t have anyone in a clear position to take his job.
Dallas’ decision makers also know that some of these issues are self-inflicted. Smith’s third season comes with his third defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. He’s been asked to lose weight as a rookie under Dan Quinn, bulk back up under Mike Zimmer, and slim back down under Matt Eberflus. In terms of giving their young prospect a consistent, smooth lane to make progress in, the team has arguably let him down, too.
However you may feel about it, Mazi Smith is getting a third season with the Cowboys. He still has time to make this work, and hopefully, we finally have the right combination of the player and coaches to maximize his potential. Going through another offseason transition may have kept him from shining in August, but he’ll get chances to show growth as the season rolls along.
0 CommentsSee More:
