Cowboys Mazi Smith Future Defensive 'Anchor'?

Despite not posting eye-opening number during his college years, Dallas Cowboys rookie Mazi Smith has the opportunity to make an instant impact in 2023.

The lure from ex-Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith was always there. 

At 6-3, 330 pounds, with elite athleticism - knocking out 22 reps of 325 pounds at the NFL combine - his collegiate stats over three years in Ann Arbor seemed irrelevant leading up to April's draft. 

Now heading into his rookie campaign as the Dallas Cowboys first-round pick, Smith has the opportunity to contribute right away. 

"Typically, tackles have a hard time making a significant impact. In Smith's case, an absence of game-changing plays had less to do with where he aligned," Bleacher Report writes. "Instead, he tended to play high and rely primarily on his physical tools. He finished his career at Michigan with only six tackles for loss and half-a-sack.

"With NFL coaching and excellent every-day competition in practice, the Cowboys should coax the most out of Smith, as he becomes the anchor of the team's defense."

While half a sack and six tackles for loss over 39 career games can appear alarming, the 22-year-old did his job well of stopping the run - racking up 48 total tackles in 2022. 

Now, the former Wolverine has the opportunity to learn from Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, one of the NFL's best pass-rushing duos and certified sack artists. 

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has been at the forefront of one of the league's best units since 2021 and expects them to "level up" this year. 

With a plan in place to improve Smith as an all-around defensive tackle, it shouldn't surprise anybody when the rookie makes an immediate impact. 

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You can find Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard

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