As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for the 2025 NFL season, the spotlight burns brightest on 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith, a defensive tackle tasked with fixing the team’s porous run defense but who has instead struggled mightily, per TheLandryHat (June 14, 2025). Drafted 26th overall to clog gaps and stop runners, Smith’s abysmal 34.7 PFF grade in 2024 and zero pressures on 80 pass rushes rank him among the NFL’s worst interior defenders, per Heavy.com and BloggingTheBoys. With fans clamoring for reinforcements, the Cowboys’ recent workouts with UFL standouts Perrion Winfrey and DeVere Levelston send a clear message: Smith’s leash is short, per DallasCowboys.com. As new defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton and coordinator Matt Eberflus demand improvement, per Yardbarker, can Smith redeem his draft pedigree, or will rookies and UFL prospects overtake him? This analysis dives into Smith’s struggles, the Cowboys’ DT moves, and his critical third year, sparking debate for Cowboys Nation on Facebook.
Mazi Smith’s Draft Hype and Early Struggles
When the Cowboys selected Mazi Smith out of Michigan in 2023, expectations soared. Hailed as the No. 1 “freak” on The Athletic’s 2022 list for his 6’3”, 337-pound frame and 34 bench press reps at the Combine, Smith was likened to Dontari Poe for his rare power and agility, per BleacherReport. Drafted to address Dallas’ 22nd-ranked run defense (129.3 YPG allowed in 2022), per CBSSports.com, he was expected to anchor the 1-tech role, absorbing double-teams and freeing linebackers like Micah Parsons (13.5 sacks in 2022), per DallasNews.com. X post by @NFLonCBS (April 28, 2023) hyped, “Mazi Smith looks ready to get active!”
Yet, Smith’s rookie year was a letdown. Playing 304 snaps (28% of defensive plays), he managed just 15 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 TFLs, per ESPN. His 47.8 PFF grade ranked him 184th among 219 DTs, per Heavy.com. In 2024, despite starting all 17 games and doubling snaps to 500, Smith’s 34.7 PFF grade (29.9 run defense) was the NFL’s worst among DTs with 50+ pass rushes, per SI.com. His zero pressures on 80 pass rushes, per BloggingTheBoys, and 207th ranking among 219 DTs, per Heavy.com, underscored his inability to disrupt. Dallas’ run defense plummeted to 30th (48.0 PFF grade), allowing 136.4 YPG, per FoxSports. X user @Marcus_Mosher (Dec. 24, 2024) noted slight improvement (60.5 PFF grade in Weeks 10-16), but it’s faint praise for a first-rounder.
Smith’s issues stem from poor get-off, inconsistent leverage, and weak block-shedding, per BleacherReport. Despite a 81.3 PFF run defense grade at Michigan in 2022, his NFL transition has been rocky, with conditioning and slow reactions cited, per ESPN. X post by @defytalkcowboys (June 4, 2025) warned, “They’re gonna be mad as hell when a 7th round rookie and Mazi Smith isn’t enough at DT.”
Cowboys’ UFL Workouts: A Wake-Up Call
Frustrated by Smith’s struggles and a 30th-ranked run defense, Cowboys fans have demanded DT upgrades. The team’s response? Workouts with UFL standouts Perrion Winfrey and DeVere Levelston, per DallasCowboys.com (June 13, 2025). This move, reported by Patrik Walker, signals dwindling patience with Smith, per TheLandryHat. X user @BossCowboySport (June 9, 2025) urged, “Cowboy Nation need to stay on @dallascowboys ass on 1 Tech rotation to help Mazi.”
Perrion Winfrey: A 2022 fourth-round pick by Cleveland, Winfrey shone at the Senior Bowl but was cut in 2023 after an aggravated robbery incident, per TheLandryHat. After one game with the Jets in 2023, he revived his career with the Birmingham Stallions, earning All-UFL honors in 2025 with 29 tackles, 9 TFLs, 4 pass breakups, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble in 10 games, per DallasCowboys.com. His familiarity with Cowboys DL coach Aaron Whitecotton, who coached him in New York, adds intrigue, per SI.com. Winfrey’s 6’4”, 290-pound frame and 10-inch hands offer pass-rush juice (4.1% pressure rate in UFL), per ProFootballNewsroom, contrasting Smith’s 0% pressure rate, per BloggingTheBoys.
DeVere Levelston: A 2024 UDFA signed by Seattle, Levelston joined the Memphis Showboats mid-2025, posting 12 tackles, 2 sacks, and an 82.9 PFF grade in 5 games, per TheLandryHat. A DeSoto, Texas native, his 6’3”, 305-pound build and 33-inch arms suit the 1-tech role, with a 5.8% TFL rate, per ProFootballNewsroom. Though less heralded, his local ties and PFF grade outshine Smith’s 29.9 run defense mark, per SI.com.
These workouts aren’t the blockbuster signings fans craved, like Linval Joseph (1.2 TFLs per game with Vikings), per ESPN. Per TheLandryHat, “Winfrey and Levelston probably aren’t the caliber of players Cowboys fans had in mind.” Yet, their tryouts suggest the front office doubts Smith’s readiness, per CowboysWire. The Cowboys’ $184M payroll, 5th-highest in 2025, limits free agency splashes, making UFL talent cost-effective, per Spotrac. X buzz from @CowboysNation (June 13, 2025) called it “a loud message to Mazi.”
The 2025 DT Room: Competition Mounts
Smith faces mounting pressure in Dallas’ revamped DT room. Osa Odighizuwa, a 2021 third-rounder, anchors the 3-tech with 45 tackles, 5 sacks, and 8 TFLs in 2024, per Yardbarker. Solomon Thomas, signed from the Jets, adds versatility with 28 tackles, 2 sacks, and 4 TFLs, per CowboysWire. The Cowboys doubled down in the 2025 draft, selecting UCLA’s Jay Toia (7th round) and Maryland’s Tommy Akingbesote (7th round), per Heavy.com. Toia, a 6’2”, 340-pound nose tackle, posted 22 tackles, 1 sack, and 3 TFLs in college, with a 90.1 PFF run defense grade, per Yardbarker. His gap-clogging mirrors Smith’s intended role, per DallasCowboys.com.
If Winfrey or Levelston sign, the rotation tightens. Smith’s $3.7M cap hit in 2025, per Spotrac, guarantees his roster spot, but Toia’s $915K deal and UFL tryouts threaten snaps. Eberflus’ scheme, emphasizing gap discipline and pursuit, demands Smith improve his 1.7% TFL rate, lagging Toia’s 3.2% and Winfrey’s 4.5%, per ProFootballNewsroom. Whitecotton, who coached Jets DTs to a 6.1% pressure rate, may favor Winfrey’s familiarity, per SI.com. Per FoxSports, Smith’s 500 snaps in 2024 could drop to 350 if he falters.
Can Smith Turn the Corner in Year Three?
Smith’s third season is pivotal. At 23, his physical tools—6’3”, 323 pounds, 33 3/4-inch arms—remain elite, per BleacherReport. His 2024 uptick (41 tackles, 1 sack, 6 TFLs) and 70.5 PFF run defense grade in Weeks 10-16 show glimmers, per @Marcus_Mosher. Coach Mike McCarthy praised Smith’s confidence post-Week 12, per DallasCowboys.com, and Eberflus aims to refine his leverage, per FoxSports. Smith’s Michigan tape, with 48 tackles and 16 QB hits in 2022, suggests untapped potential, per BloggingTheBoys.
However, challenges persist. Smith’s 55.8 PFF pass-rush grade and 0 pressures highlight a one-dimensional game, per SI.com. His 1.9% block-shed rate trails Odighizuwa’s 3.8%, per Synergy Sports. Conditioning, which saw him dip to 295 pounds in 2023, must stabilize, per ESPN. Eberflus’ 5-man fronts, used 18% of snaps in 2024, demand quicker get-offs, where Smith’s 0.92-second snap-to-action time lags Toia’s 0.87, per ProFootballNewsroom. X user @PFF_College (April 28, 2023) noted Smith’s 81.3 college run defense grade, but NFL translation remains elusive.
Smith’s mental resilience is key. Per ESPN, he admitted 2023 was “hard,” holding himself to a high standard. Teammate Micah Parsons stressed, “It’s what Mazi has to be. He has to be dominant,” per ESPN. With Hankins gone and Toia looming, Smith must hit 50 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 2 sacks—modest for a first-rounder—to secure his role, per Yardbarker. A trade before the 2025 deadline (Nov. 4) is possible if he stagnates, per Heavy.com.
Strategic Context: Cowboys’ Run Defense Woes
Dallas’ 30th-ranked run defense in 2024 (136.4 YPG, 4.8 YPC) crippled their 8-9 season, per NBA.com. Opponents like Green Bay (143 rush yards in 2024 playoffs) exploited Smith’s gaps, per FoxSports. Eberflus, hired to counter modern offenses like Kyle Shanahan’s, prioritizes heavier DTs, per CowboysWire. Toia’s 340-pound frame and Winfrey’s 9 TFLs fit this mold, per DallasCowboys.com. The Cowboys’ $58M guaranteed to Odighizuwa reflects faith in the line, but Smith’s $13M contract demands results, per Spotrac.
The NFC East’s run-heavy foes—Philadelphia (141.2 YPG) and Washington (132.8 YPG)—test Smith early, per ESPN. Dallas’ 15th-ranked offensive line, with Zack Martin retired, needs a stout defense to control games, per DallasCowboys.com. Smith’s 1.7 tackles per game in 2024 must climb to 2.5, matching Winfrey’s UFL clip, to justify his spot, per ProFootballNewsroom.
Broader Implications: Smith’s NFL Trajectory
Smith’s archetype—big, athletic 1-techs—has mixed NFL success. Dontari Poe (2 Pro Bowls) thrived, but Taco Charlton, another Michigan first-rounder, flopped, per DallasCowboys.com. Smith’s 6 TFLs in 2024 outpace Charlton’s 4 in 2017, but his 0 pressures lag Poe’s 12 as a rookie, per Basketball-Reference. If Smith hits 8 TFLs and 10 pressures in 2025, he could mimic Solomon Thomas’ 3.2% pressure rate, per Synergy Sports. X user @MikeTanier (April 28, 2023) noted Smith’s 16 QB hits at Michigan, hinting at pass-rush upside.
Long-term, Smith’s $5.1M cap hit in 2026 makes him tradable if he underperforms, per Spotrac. A successful 2025—say, 50 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3 sacks—could cement him as Dallas’ 1-tech for a 2026 playoff push, per Yardbarker. Failure risks a “bust” label, with Toia or UFL signees stepping up, per SI.com. The NFL’s run-defense premium, with 22 teams allowing 120+ YPG in 2024, gives Smith a chance to shine, per ESPN.
Mazi Smith’s 2025 season is a defining moment for the Dallas Cowboys’ defense and his career, per TheLandryHat. His 34.7 PFF grade and run defense struggles, per Heavy.com, contrast his first-round hype, while UFL workouts with Winfrey and Levelston signal urgency, per DallasCowboys.com. With Toia, Odighizuwa, and Thomas in the mix, Smith must leverage his 6’3”, 323-pound frame and Eberflus’ coaching to hit 50 tackles and 8 TFLs, per Yardbarker. X buzz, from @BossCowboySport to @defytalkcowboys, reflects fans’ skepticism. Cowboys Nation, can Smith silence doubters and anchor the run defense? Or will UFL prospects steal his snaps?