Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Tue 11/4/25 2:27 PM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
The Cowboys traded Smith, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick to the Jets for DT Quinnen Williams on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
EDGE Analysis
A 2023 first-round pick, Smith wasn't able to live up to the billing, finishing his two-plus-year tenure in Dallas with 57 tackles, including 2.0 sacks, in 39 regular-season games. He'll join a rotation at defensive tackle in New York that includes Harrison Phillips, Jay Tufele (knee) and Jowon Briggs.
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Sun 10/19/25 3:27 PM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith is active for Sunday's contest against the Commanders.
EDGE Analysis
Smith has played inconsistently this season, but he will now be active for his fourth contest of the year. The defensive lineman has compiled just one tackle to this point in the season, playing 50 snaps on defense and 15 with the special-teams unit.
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Thu 9/4/25 6:59 PM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's regular-season opener against the Eagles.
EDGE Analysis
The 2023 first-rounder started in all 17 regular-season games last year, but he was in jeopardy of not making the Cowboys' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. While he ultimately made the cut, Smith will be a healthy scratch Thursday, with Week 2 against the Giants on Sunday, September 14 being his next chance to play. Solomon Thomas and Jay Toia will serve in a rotational role at defensive tackle behind starters Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark.
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Tue 8/19/25 10:10 AM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith may be on the roster bubble for the Cowboys, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
The 2023 first-round pick has failed to make any kind of impact in his first two NFL seasons, with his only redeeming quality being that he hasn't missed a game. Smith graded out 208th among 220 interior defensive linemen last year according to Pro Football Focus, and offseason turnover in the coaching staff means that the current brain trust of head coach Brian Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus have little investment in keeping the 24-year-old Michigan product around. "We're still in the information gathering process," Schottenheimer said Monday. "We'll sit down after we play Friday and we'll make some decisions about the entire roster. There will probably be some surprises from some of the mock things that are out there in terms of, 'Hey, I thought for sure this guy was gonna make it.'" The coach did note that Smith "did some good things" in last Saturday's preseason game against the Ravens, but he also highlighted his lack of consistency. "Mazi wants to be a great player. Mazi can. But what he has to do is be more consistent. That great play I described where he's getting his second step in the dirt and fish-hooking the center and he's basically destroying the line of scrimmage, that's got to be the standard. Not the, 'Okay, I did that,' and for two plays I'm not holding the point as strong as I need to." Smith may get his last chance to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster in Friday's preseason finale against the Falcons.
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Sun 8/17/25 4:44 PM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith (knee) logged one tackle during Dallas' preseason loss to the Ravens on Saturday.
EDGE Analysis
Smith had previously been limited in practice due to a knee injury but is seemingly healthy again. He is expected to serve as one of the team's starting defensive tackles alongside Osa Odighizuwa once the regular season gets underway.
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Tue 8/5/25 9:25 PM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith (knee) did not practice Tuesday, Joe Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.
EDGE Analysis
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said after practice Tuesday that the team isn't concerned about Smith's injury. Selected 26th overall in the 2023 Draft, Smith has appeared in all 34 regular-season games over the last two seasons, logging 54 tackles (31 solo), including 2.0 sacks. He's made little impact in the box score for Dallas, but Smith should once again be counted on to log heavy playing time in 2025.
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Tue 1/7/25 10:49 PM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith started all 17 games for the Cowboys in 2024 and recorded 41 tackles (22 solo), including 1.0 sacks.
EDGE Analysis
The 2023 first-round pick also nearly doubled his snap count from 287 as a rookie to 500 this year. Dallas' defense, though, struggled against the run, allowing the fourth-most yards in the league.
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Sun 1/5/25 11:55 AM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith (pelvis) is active for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
EDGE Analysis
The defensive tackle missed practice Wednesday, returned as a limited participant Thursday and Friday, and carried a questionable tag into the weekend. Smith has played in every game this season for the Cowboys, recording 39 tackles (21 solo).
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Sun 9/22/24 3:11 PM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
EDGE Analysis
A back injury prevented Smith from participating in practice Wednesday and Thursday, but he was able to return in a limited capacity Friday. The 2023 first-round pick was considered a true game-time decision Sunday, and he will indeed suit up, though he could be on a snap count given the uncertainty of his playing status before the official inactive list was announced. Linval Joseph would be the beneficiary of increased playing time if Smith is in fact limited.
Mazi Smith IL/DT NYJ (9) Sun 9/22/24 11:32 AM
Mazi Smith
IL/DT NYJ (9)
Smith (back) is considered a true game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Jane Slater of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Smith was able to get in a limited practice session Friday after being a DNP in each of the first two practices of the week, and he was given the questionable tag for Sunday's game. Further clarity on Smith's availability will come about 90 minutes before the 4:25pm kickoff when the Cowboys release their inactive list.