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Cowboys Predicted to Part Ways With $13 Million Former First Round Pick

Dallas, TX – May 16, 2025

The Dallas Cowboys are predicted to part ways with defensive tackle Mazi Smith, their 2023 first-round pick (No. 26 overall), as his performance continues to fall short of expectations, according to a recent analysis by PFF. Smith, who is in the third year of a 4-year, $13.2 million contract, has struggled to justify his draft position, and 2025 is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for him.

Smith’s first two seasons in the NFL have been underwhelming. In 2023, his rookie year, he recorded just 13 tackles and 1.0 sack across 17 games with 3 starts. In 2024, despite starting all 17 games, he managed only 41 tackles, 1.0 sack, and 4 tackles for loss, with a mere 3 quarterback hits and no forced fumbles or recoveries. His PFF overall grade of 34.7 in 2024 ranked him 207th out of 219 eligible defensive tackles, marking his second consecutive season with a sub-48.0 grade.

“Former first-rounder Mazi Smith endured a particularly tough 2024 campaign,” PFF’s Mason Cameron wrote on May 9. “Although Dallas signed Solomon Thomas in free agency, that doesn’t profile as the answer to the Cowboys’ 30th-ranked run-defense grade (48.0).”

The Cowboys’ run defense has been a weak point, and Smith’s lack of impact has put his roster spot in jeopardy. One potential scenario sees the Cowboys trading Smith before the NFL trade deadline in 2025 to a team in need of an interior run defender, aiming to salvage some value before his trade stock declines further.

Smith entered the NFL with high expectations after a standout college career at the University of Michigan. In 2022, he was named to the All-Big Ten Conference team, recording 49 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery while leading the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman listed him as No. 1 on his 2022 college football “Freaks” list, praising his rare combination of power and agility at 6-foot-3 and 337 pounds.

NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Smith to two-time Pro Bowler Dontari Poe but cautioned that he was more of a Day 2 talent with upside rather than an immediate starter. The Cowboys, however, saw enough potential to make him their first defensive tackle selected in the first round since Russell Maryland in 1991.

The team may have signaled their concerns about Smith in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting two defensive tackles in the seventh round: UCLA’s Jay Toia and Maryland’s Tommy Akingbesote. If Smith fails to improve in 2025, the Cowboys could look to move on, either through a trade or by releasing him, marking a disappointing outcome for a once-promising first-round pick.

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Packers' Star QB Refuses MVP Title to Fully Focus on Team in Tough Phase
Can you believe it? Jordan Love, the "red-hot" quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, is on track to compete for MVP with +1000 odds at DraftKings – but this guy is "refusing" personal glory to pour all his energy into the team struggling with a "hellish" schedule! Is this a heroic act or just a ploy? Read now to uncover the "truth" behind it! In the Super Bowl era, the Packers have produced three MVP legends: Bart Starr (1966), Brett Favre (1995-1997), and Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021). Now, Jordan Love has a chance to become the fourth, putting the Packers on par with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts – the only team with four QB MVPs like Johnny Unitas, Earl Morrall, Bert Jones, and Peyton Manning. With his current "explosive" form, Love ranks fourth in the NFL for passer rating (105.4), tied for fifth in touchdown passes (22), with only four interceptions – the fewest among QBs starting all 13 games, and a 67.1% completion rate ranking seventh. But instead of "dreaming" of MVP, Love seems to be "rejecting" it! In a recent interview, he emphasized: "These are the most important games of the season, obviously with a lot of things coming down to playoff seeding and the division race, so this is the important football. I think it’s everybody, we keep stacking and keep getting better and better throughout the season and learn from the mistakes we make and overcome some of the obstacles. Just keep stacking and trying to find ways to get better every day is something that’s been helping us." These words are like a clear "declaration": Love doesn't care about MVP, but only wants to focus on the team in its "tough phase" with a 9-3-1 record, trailing the Rams (10-3) in the NFC. Head coach Matt LaFleur also "sings along": "Yeah, he’s playing really good football right now. That’s obviously important and it’s going to be important moving forward." And offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich praises the consistency: "I would say just the consistency that he’s had has been great... Just being a consistent, efficient quarterback is one thing that I’ve been really pleased with." But it's Packers defensive end Micah Parsons who "reveals" why Love deserves but is "overlooking" MVP: "I definitely think he deserves recognition... If you go off strength of schedule, how he's played and with him missing half his receivers, I think that goes unnoticed, too. Some of the things he did without (Christian Watson) early in the year, then (Jayden Reed), so this guy was missing two of his starting receivers majority of the year and they're just now getting back in these last eight weeks of the stretch, so I definitely think he deserves a lot more credit and I'm just happy I'm able to be a part of this journey with him." Currently, Matthew Stafford of the Rams leads the MVP race with -180 odds, 35 touchdown passes (far ahead of Dak Prescott with 26), passer rating 113.1, and only four interceptions. Drake Maye of the Patriots follows with +200, passer rating 111.9, 3,412 passing yards, and 23 touchdowns. Love, with a four-game winning streak (nine touchdowns, one interception, passer rating 112.1), could stage a comeback if he maintains "red-hot form" – especially in the upcoming two "epic" games: away at Denver (11-2) and Chicago (9-4). If the Packers leap to the NFC's No. 1 seed (likely needing a 4-0 finish), while the Rams stumble against Detroit (8-5) and Seattle (10-3), or the Patriots slip against Buffalo (9-4) and Baltimore (6-7), Love would have a shot at MVP. But with his "humble" attitude, does Love really want to "accept" that title? Or is he sacrificing personally to save the Packers from the "tough phase"? The 2025 NFL drama is "hotter than ever"! Do you think Love is "playing a trick" to motivate the team? Comment now and follow for the "shocking" outcome of the MVP race!