The Dallas Cowboys, America’s Team, finalized their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, a ritual every NFL team undergoes with high stakes and heated debates. Yet, one decision has left fans and analysts scratching their heads: the inclusion of defensive tackle Mazi Smith. Drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at No. 26 overall, Smith has been nothing short of a letdown, and his retention on the roster raises eyebrows—especially when offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s explanation sounds more like a justification for a cut than a reason to keep him.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Mazi Smith has been a disappointment. Since being selected as a cornerstone for the Cowboys’ defensive line, the former Michigan standout has struggled to make an impact. His 2023 season was underwhelming, with a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of just 47.2, and his 2024 preseason performance was even worse, plummeting to a dismal 34.8. For a player expected to anchor the trenches for a franchise with Super Bowl aspirations, these numbers are alarming. When even Taco Charlton, another Cowboys first-round bust, feels compelled to defend you, it’s a sign things aren’t going well.
Smith’s preseason showings did little to inspire confidence. Inconsistent at best, his flashes of potential were too few and far between to justify his roster spot on merit alone. Fans and pundits alike had him pegged as a prime candidate for release, especially for a team that hasn’t hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in nearly 30 years and can’t afford to carry underperformers. So why is Mazi Smith still a Cowboy?
Enter Brian Schottenheimer, whose explanation for keeping Smith on the roster only deepens the mystery. “It doesn’t matter that you’re a first-round pick,” Schottenheimer told the media, recounting a “great” conversation he had with Smith. “We want to see you be more consistent. We know what you’re capable of.” On the surface, it sounds like a coach holding a player accountable, urging him to rise to his potential. But dig deeper, and it feels like a backhanded justification for keeping a player who hasn’t earned it.
Schottenheimer’s words imply that Smith’s spot isn’t about his current production but rather a belief in what he could become—a promise from Cowboys management to stick with their high draft pick, perhaps out of loyalty or a refusal to admit a mistake. For a franchise as storied and scrutinized as Dallas, this sends a confusing message. Why keep an inconsistent player on the most famous football team on the planet when the clock is ticking toward another season without a Super Bowl?
The decision to retain Smith reeks of a front-office mandate. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ brass have a history of standing by their draft investments, sometimes to a fault. Smith’s inclusion feels less about his on-field contributions and more about the team’s unwillingness to cut bait on a first-rounder so soon. Schottenheimer’s comments about “finding time for conversations” are a nice touch, but they don’t mask the reality: Smith hasn’t lived up to his draft status, and his roster spot seems tied to a promise rather than performance.
Imagine if Jones and star linebacker Micah Parsons applied that same conversational energy to align their vision for the team. Instead, Cowboys fans are left wondering why a player with such lackluster results continues to occupy a valuable roster spot.
To be fair, Smith has shown occasional glimpses of the talent that made him a first-round pick. A strong play here, a solid tackle there—but these moments are too rare to justify his place on a team with championship aspirations. As the Cowboys prepare to face the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in their season opener, Smith’s roster spot isn’t set in stone. The team will likely make additional moves before taking the field, and Smith’s performance in practice could determine whether he sees meaningful snaps.
For now, Mazi Smith remains a Cowboy, but the clock is ticking. Schottenheimer and the coaching staff are banking on the hope that he can finally tap into the potential they still believe in. If he doesn’t, the Cowboys risk squandering not just a roster spot but the trust of a fanbase desperate for a return to glory. The shocking truth? Mazi Smith’s spot on the 53-man roster may owe more to a promise from Cowboys management than to his play on the field. Only time will tell if that gamble pays off.