Jets To Waive DT Mazi Smith

A recent roster projection from Schefter’s colleague Rich Cimini named Harrison Phillips, David Onyemata and T’Vondre Sweat as the Jets’ likely starters up front. Jowon Briggs and fourth-round rookie Darrell Jackson Jr. were left in place as backups in that exercise. To little surprise, Smith is not included in that group (at least, pending a practice squad return).

Things have not gone according to plan in Smith’s case since he arrived in the NFL as a first-round pick in 2023. The Cowboys used him as a full-time starter during his second campaign, but struggles against the run along with a limited pass rush impact (one sack) left the team in search of upgrades along the defensive interior. Kenny Clark was acquired as part of the Micah Parsons blockbuster, while Smith was sent to the Jets ahead of the 2025 trade deadline with Dallas adding Quinnen Williams.

Between his time in Dallas and New York last season, Smith totaled just eight games. The Michigan product once again received one of the league’s lowest PFF evaluations, a sign of his ongoing struggles with respect to developing into an NFL regular early in his career. The Jets will take on a dead money charge of $2.56MM with this cut while not generating any cap savings in the process.

Any team interested in a claim for Smith, 25, would be required to absorb his base salary ($2.56MM). It is much more likely a trip to free agency is in store following Monday’s deadline for claiming players who are waived over the course of this weekend. A return to the Jets via the taxi squad could be something to watch for. Otherwise, Smith will look to find a new home in time for Week 1.