Dallas Cowboys 2023 first-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith has had a rough start to his career and it doesn't look like things are getting any better.
Smith has played in all 34 games over his first two seasons in the NFL, but he hasn't come close to living up to his first-round billing.
In 2024, Smith tallied one sack, 41 tackles and four tackles for loss while posting an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 34.8, a pass-rush grade of 49.6 and a run-defense grade of 35.9, all of which ranked 202nd or worse among interior defenders.
Now, Smith is taking yet another step toward bust status ahead of the Week 1 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.
According to the Cowboys' list of inactives, Smith will not play in the Cowboys' season-opener, as was previously reported by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Smith is a healthy scratch, as he wasn't listed on the team's injury report this week.
Fowler had noted that Smith was either going to be inactive or "out of the core rotation" for the Cowboys. Clearly Dallas went with the former.
Smith was knocked down the depth chart following the Micah Parsons trade with the Green Bay Packers, which landed defensive lineman Kenny Clark in Dallas.
Earlier this offseason, Smith admitted he needed to step his game, especially after a lackluster showing in the preseason opener.
"I just have to keep getting better," Smith said. "The first [preseason game], I wasn't happy with at all, to be honest. I didn't do anything. I just need to keep learning the scheme and keep getting off the ball."
"I just didn't do anything, you know? Like, you gotta do something. I'm a first-round pick. There's expectations, and all that. This is my third year."
Hats off to the young man for being honest. Unfortunately, that hasn't done anything to help him play better on the field.
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