Revisiting expectations is an important part of the evaluation process. It recalibrates narratives and helps to set future expectations. For a slow developing player like Mazi Smith, it provides a winnable playing field amidst constant scrutiny.
The elephant in the room and the scarlet letter sure to bias evaluations is Smith’s draft pedigree and the immediate expectations that came with it. As athe 2023 first-round pick, Smith came to the Dallas Cowboys with sky-high expectations. He was a draft prospect from a major football program in Michigan and topped Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List as icing on the cake. Smith was an undeveloped pass rusher, but he had strength, stoutness and an athletic profile that made that appear to be nothing more than a bump in the road.
Obviously, his shortcomings as a pass rusher proved to be a much bigger issue than anyone expected and his difficulties getting off the ball, holding up against blocks and stopping the run were equally as troublesome. Year 1 for Smith was nothing short of a bust.
Expectations understandably changed in his second season. To those outside the organization, Smith was no longer looked at as a budding star but rather a guy just trying to crack a rotation. Internally the expectations changed but they still continued to run high. The Cowboys parted with top 1-tech defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and essentially handed the starting job to Smith. It was a big opportunity for a player who graded at the very bottom of the league a year before, but a statement of faith and expectations from the franchise who drafted him.
Did Mazi Smith meet expectations in 2024?
Smith showed improvement in his second NFL season but given the role the Cowboys asked him to play, he unquestionably fell short of expectations. For the second time in as many seasons Smith graded as one of the worst interior defensive linemen in the NFL, struggling to maintain his gaps, stop the run, or offer pressure. He again struggled to get off on the snap from which he found it nearly impossible to recover.
Once again, the Cowboys have pushed Smith into a key role this season. Despite his struggles in all areas of the game, he’s the favorite to start next to Osa Odighizuwa at DT in 2025. Dallas will likely add a veteran 1-tech to the mix between now and training camp, but that player will probably be nothing more than rotational.
The expectations aren’t that Smith will suddenly lead the NFL in interior pressure, become an overnight Pro Bowler, or be the second coming of Russell Maryland as a run-stuffer. Expectations aren’t that he’s going to be the source of highlights or suddenly grade well in Pro Football Focus’ often problematic IDL grading process. Expectations are Smith becomes a player of average starting ability in 2025.
Based on the first two seasons of work, those are lofty expectations, but expectations nonetheless. The Cowboys are asking Smith to live up to his pedigree and achieve what his athletic profile indicates he can achieve. They need Smith to be stout against the run, maintain the front of the pocket in passing situations and play like an asset rather than a liability.
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