FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys stood pat and went defense with its pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys on Thursday chose Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith with the No. 26 pick, adding more depth to a defense that struggled against the run at times during the 2022 season.
What are the Cowboys getting in Smith?
“Dog. Big dog," Smith asserted. "Big physical guy. Never been afraid of contact… I’ve been strong my whole life. My mom said, ‘I came out the womb looking like I did push-ups in there.’”
Smith's strength and speed make him an athletic freak at defensive tackle.
Combine his monster-like ability with his youthful charm off the field (remind you of anyone?), and he should fit seamlessly next to Cowboys defensive superstar Micah Parsons.
Needless to say, Parsons was thrilled with the pick.
The Cowboys front office admitted Smith was not the only prospect they considered with the 26th pick.
There were a few guys in the mix and they debated the different options in the warm room at The Star, according to Cowboys CEO and Director of Player Personnel Stephen Jones.
Ultimately, Smith was the choice because they wanted to bolster the run defense along the defensive line, and they lacked depth at that position prior to Thursday night.
"Depth at other positions plays into your strategy, too," Jones added, during the Cowboys press conference following round one.
When asked where Smith was on the Cowboys big board, owner Jerry Jones playfully replied: "Who gives a [expletive]? We got him."
"We think this is an excellent fit for us," chimed in Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
Measuring at 6-foot-3 and 323 pounds, Smith started 14 games for the Wolverines in 2022 and was a first-team All-Big Ten pick with 48 tackles -- 2.5 of them for a loss.
Draft analysts at NFL.com described Smith as a "rare combination of size and athleticism," with a strong ability to "slide, swim and seize the gap."
While Smith will bring size and athleticism to the Cowboys defensive interior for the running game, NFL.com says the 21-year-old's weakness appears in the passing game. Smith hasn't been known to make many plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Smith stayed in his home state for college. He was born in Grand Rapids, and went to high school at East Kentwood High School in Kentwood. He arrived in Michigan as an ESPN top 50 recruit in 2019.
Smith did have a run-in with the law during his time at Michigan.
In October 2022, Smith was arrested by Ann Arbor police after he was stopped for speeding. Police said he was charged with possessing a concealed weapon without a valid license.
He later pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor weapons charge and was sentenced to probation. The Detroit Free Press reported that the guilty plea allowed Smith to avoid a criminal record.
