Cowboys take tackle over TE in 2023 NFL Draft

Mazi Smith. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys take tackle over tight end in 2023 NFL Draft

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 4/28/23

With a glaring need at the tight end position, most mock drafts had the Cowboys taking Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer with the 26th pick. Instead, they went with Michigan DT Mazi Smith. Did they make the right move?

This year, the Athletic’s Bruce Feldman put Smith at the top of his annual College Football Freaks List. At 6-foot-3 and 337 pounds, Smith is regarded as one of the strongest prospects in the draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper had Smith rated as the third-best defensive tackle while Todd McShay ranked him fifth.

Pro Football Focus sees Smith as a true hold-the-point nose tackle. He won’t generate many sacks, but his size and strength should be a welcome addition to a team that gave up the 11th-most rushing yards per game in 2022. Smith needs to improve his technique, but the Cowboys believe his explosive hands will allow him to shed blocks and make plays in the backfield.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he believes NT Mazi Smith was the No. 13 or 14 player on draft board. “But who gives a s---? We got him.” pic.twitter.com/fgA2XeCqHc
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 28, 2023

On the other hand, Mayer’s hands are pretty good too. He’s widely considered the draft’s second-best tight end after Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, who went one pick ahead of Smith to the Bills. Mayer had 180 catches for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns in three years at Notre Dame. He finished his college career as Notre Dame’s all-time receptions leader as a tight end.

With Dalton Schultz now in Houston, the Cowboys may have to rely on a pair of second-year tight ends. Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot both have a chance to be the starter in 2023, but neither stood out during their rookie season with 30 combined receptions.

Mayer would’ve been a good pick at No. 26, but there are plenty of good tight ends still available, including Mayer. He probably won’t last until the 58th pick, but other tight ends like Georgia’s Darnell Washington and Iowa’s Sam LaPorta could.

The defensive tackle position isn’t quite as deep, so Dallas probably made the right move by taking Smith. Look for the rookie DT to rely on raw ability while splitting time with Johnathan Hankins next year and look for the Cowboys to take a tight end with their second-round pick.

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