Although the Cowboys made some noise during free agency this past spring, there’s still significant work ahead for the team, which ended the 2024 season with a 7-10 record. They bolstered their roster by signing key free agents, making trades, and re-signing essential depth players. However, for the Cowboys to succeed in 2025, several players need to elevate their performance. Today, we continue the Next Man Up series, focusing on defensive lineman Mazi Smith.

Name: Mazi Smith
Position: Defensive Line
Experience: 2 years
Games Played/Starts: 34/20
Years Left on Contract: 2 + 1-year team option
How Acquired: 26th-overall pick (2023 NFL Draft)
Key Stat: 17 starts in 2024 (career high)

The Past: Mazi Smith faced immense expectations when he was selected as the Cowboys’ first-round pick in 2023. This pressure didn’t just stem from being a first-round choice, a position that naturally comes with the burden to justify one’s selection, but also because the last first-round pick from Michigan, Taco Charlton, didn’t meet expectations. Additionally, Smith was the first defensive tackle the Cowboys picked in the first round since Russell Maryland in 1991, who became a legendary figure.

The Present: As he heads into his third year, Smith is finally gaining traction, increasing his starts by 14 from his rookie season and starting every game in 2024. This progress at a crucial position is encouraging.

The continued presence of Osa Odighizuwa is likely to aid Smith’s growth alongside the impactful 3-tech, as will more playing time compared to his rotational role in 2023 under Dan Quinn. Smith retains the NT1 position for the upcoming season, taking on the role of seasoned player—unusual as it may sound—with Justin Rogers and Denzel Daxon vying for playing time behind him before this year’s NFL Draft.

The Future: With Matt Eberflus stepping in as the Cowboys’ third defensive coordinator in Smith’s three-year NFL tenure, Smith faces the task of adapting to yet another system during a critical year in his early career. While learning a new scheme and meeting different coaching demands each year is inherently challenging, Smith has no alternative but to adapt. If he can integrate the positive lessons from his experiences with Quinn and Mike Zimmer with what Eberflus will impart, this season could potentially be a breakthrough for Smith.