Cowboys nose tackle Mazi Smith passes important first test in very first day of training camp

When Mazi Smith measured in at 323 pounds at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in February, the Dallas Cowboys knew they'd target him as a run stopper nose tackle, which they ended up doing him by selecting the Michigan product in the first round.

Fast forward to the regular season though and things changed as Mazi failed to maintain his playing weight. Suddenly, the Cowboys didn't have what they had paid for as their supposed nose tackle of the future was under 300 pounds and looking increasingly like a three-technique. Smith unsurprisingly ended the season with only a 28% snap count.

Going into Year 2 of Mazi's career, the Cowboys are all in on him at nose tackle after letting Johnathan Hankins walk in free agency and adding virtually no competition for him at the position. A large part of how that bet ultimately pays off is whether or not Smith plays at a heavier weight, one which allows him to eat up gaps and make reads cleaner for linebackers in the second level.

Fortunately for them, Smith passed the first test with flying colors, having shown up to camp at 310 pounds, per 105.3 The Fan's Bryan Broaddus:

Per several reporters who were at practice, Smith's increase in size compared to last season was noticeable merely by looking at him. Patrik Walker from DallasCowboys.com also noted his power when working with the sleds on Twitter/X:

Smith, who underwent shoulder surgery this offseason, is arguably one of the most important players on Mike Zimmer's defense ahead of 2024 and the team badly needs him to pay off. The Cowboys self-admittedly need to get better against the run and even if the linebacker unit is trending upward, it won't matter if the defense is being punched in the mouth in the trenches.

It's Mazi Smith's job to change all that. So far, he's done his part as far as the weight goes. Now the tougher part begins: Improve in his get-off off the line of scrimmage, shed blocks, etc. It's only his second season in the NFL but it's already a big year for his career.

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