Cowboys Former First-Round Pick Sheds 24 Pounds to Rewrite His Legacy

DALLAS, TX – July 19, 2025

In Dallas, silence can speak louder than swagger. For a city built on legends and expectation, there’s little room for patience — especially when your name comes with first-round weight. The bright lights, the noise, the spotlight never go away. But sometimes, a man decides to go away — into the shadows, into the work, into the parts of the grind no camera ever sees.

This offseason, Cowboys camp opened without headlines about one of their former top picks. No viral clips. No flashy quotes. Just whispers from teammates and coaches: “He looks different this year.”

Mazi Smith, the No. 26 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was supposed to anchor the defensive line for years to come. He arrived from Michigan with freakish strength and a motor that drew comparisons to Pro Bowl greats. But his rookie campaign in 2023 was underwhelming, and 2024 wasn't much better. Missed assignments. Limited snaps. And a growing fear from fans that he might not live up to the pick.

Instead of clapping back, Smith disappeared — not from the roster, but from the noise. This spring, he hired a new nutritionist, revamped his training plan, and shed 24 pounds of unnecessary bulk. His goal? Regain quickness, explosiveness, and the edge that made him dominant in college.

"I wasn’t proud of what I put on film. You only get drafted once — and I knew I was wasting the gift," Smith said quietly after practice. "So I stripped it all down. The body. The excuses. The noise. I’m not here to be potential. I’m here to be a problem."

Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer praised Smith’s transformation, noting his faster get-off and improved footwork. Teammates say he’s hungrier — in meetings, in the weight room, in every drill. With Dallas eyeing a deeper playoff push, Smith’s growth could be the key to unlocking the middle of the defense.

The Cowboys don’t hand out second chances. But sometimes, a player earns his own.

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