Cowboys Country

Cowboys Stock Report: Rico Dowdle Up, Mazi Smith Down?

The Dallas Cowboys remain winless in the preseason despite a strong showing from several players versus the Seattle Seahawks. Who's stock is up or down?

Harrison Reno

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The Dallas Cowboys fell short on Saturday in their second preseason against the Seattle Seahawks, yet they still found strong performances from a number of players who have likely locked up a spot on the 53-man roster. 

So what does the stock report look like for the Cowboys heading into their third and final preseason game?

Trending Up - Cooper Rush A week ago, some may have thought that Will Grier outperformed the Rush in the preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars and even gone as far as to say there could be a battle for the QB2 spot on the depth chart.

Although following Saturday's 22-14 loss to the Seahawks - though Grier was again capable - Rush put those thoughts to rest as he put together a strong outing. The sixth-year veteran started the game for the Cowboys, and despite being pulled after two offensive drives, his final stat line read: nine of 14 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. 

Jalen Tolbert The predictions for a sophomore surge of a season continue to roll in for Jalen Tolbert after he led the Cowboys in receiving with four receptions for 66 yards. Tolbert continues to look like the runaway candidate to be the fourth receiver on the depth chart behind CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Brandin Cooks. 

After having his highlight jump-ball catch versus the Jaguars wiped off the board due to a shady offensive pass interference call, Tolbert wasn't denied against Seattle as he reeled in a back-shoulder pass from Rush on the first drive for a 35-yard gain on the first third-down of the drive. 

Rico Dowdle With the rookie Deuce Vaughn looking like the leader to become RB2 behind Tony Pollard, Dowdle seems to have set himself up to be the third back on the roster - or maybe RB2-and-a-half? - come the season-opener versus the New York Giants. 

Malik Davis isn't done bidder here. But Dowdle put together his second-straight strong performance versus the Seahawks leading the Cowboys in rushing with 38 yards on eight carries while also adding nine yards and a touchdown on two receptions as a pass-catcher.

Trending Down - Depth Potentially the biggest loser on Saturday was the Cowboys' depth at tight end and linebacker, as both John Stephens Jr and DeMarvion Overshown had their seasons ended with ACL tears. 

Brock Hoffman The second-year interior offensive linemen out of Virginia Tech was the worst graded linemen for the Cowboys on Saturday, according to Pro Football Focus's grading system. Hoffman earned a team-worst 38.7 overall and a 25.4 pass-blocking grade as he allowed a sack that ended the Cowboys' first drive and gave up three pressures (also a team-high). 

The Cowboys' offensive line depth has been problematic this preseason, and Hoffman's PFF grade on Saturday - if you believe such things - did little to soothe that concern.

Matt Waletzko, by the way, injured a shoulder in the game, but is day-to-day ... and between that and the Hoffman-level play of a group of other O-linemen suggests Dallas may eventually made a roster move here.

Holding - Mazi Smith The rookie out of Michigan has been mentioned on Twitter frequently following the loss to the Seahawks, as he didn't record a tackle. Additionally, clips of him getting moved by offensive linemen have been making the rounds on social media. 

Despite the noise surrounding Smith, the Cowboys don't seem concerned, as team COO Stephen Jones said post-game that he is in the game as a run-stopper first and foremost. 

"He's a run-stopper, and he's strong as hell," Jones said about Smith. "Everyone wants to see him rushing the pasher, but that’s not what we want. He’ll ultimately get better and better at it, but you know what he does best is not necessarily sexy or jumps off the page."

When Jones puts it like that, it seems Mazi is garnering unfair criticism due to a lack of stats - the word "bust'' is silly - which is why we don't consider his stock going either up or down. ... yet.

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Harrison Reno
HARRISON RENO

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