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NFL Analyst Gives Dallas Cowboys Mazi Smith Abysmal Midseason Grade

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matthew Brown | Last updated 11/8/23

The Dallas Cowboys spent their first-round pick on Mazi Smith to try and help beef up the defensive line. His NFL career has not gotten off to a great start. One NFL analyst gave Smith an abysmal grade at the midseason point.

Dallas Cowboys Mazi Smith Receives A Bad Midseason Grade

Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report graded all of the first-round picks and it is safe to say that he has not been impressed by Smith. He gave him a “D” and looking into the stats, it is easy to see why. While he has gotten limited opportunities, he has just one pressure in 64 pass rush attempts. This is not an ideal way to earn more reps. Smith is an athletic marvel but so far that hasn’t translated to anything on the field.

Early In His Career

Every team wants their first-round pick to be great right away. That doesn’t always happen. Some players need more time to adjust to the NFL and get their sea legs so to speak. The Cowboys coaching staff has been vocal about their excitement about the progress that Smith has made throughout the season. If he continues to impress in practice, that will likely translate to more reps during games. This season might also not be the year Smith shines. It may take a year or two for him to turn into a dominant player in the league.

Mazi Smith, I think relied on overpowering people in college without having to have good technique. You can’t do that in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys need to coach him up and if they do it right, they could have a dominant force on their hands.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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