Mazi Smith
Mazi Smith is a defensive tackle for the New York Jets who came over from the Dallas Cowboys in the November 4, 2025, trade that sent two-time Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams to Dallas. A former first-round pick, Smith arrived alongside a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick, and projects as a rotational interior run-stuffer for the Jets in 2026.
Background & Path to the Jets
Smith played his college football at Michigan, where he anchored the Wolverines’ defensive front and earned a reputation as one of the strongest players in the country. The Cowboys selected him with the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He never fully delivered on that draft billing in Dallas, working mostly as a rotational nose tackle over two-plus seasons before being included as the player piece in the Quinnen Williams blockbuster. After a quiet three-game cameo with the Jets to close 2025, Smith’s future was clouded when the Jets declined his fifth-year option on April 29, 2026, making 2026 a contract year and likely his last, best chance to establish himself in New York.
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–2024 | Cowboys | — | — | 2.0 | — |
| 2025 | Cowboys/Jets | — | — | — | — |
Note: Across roughly 39 games in Dallas (2023–25), Smith recorded 57 total tackles, 7 TFL, and 2.0 sacks. He appeared in just 3 games (54 snaps) with the Jets after the 2025 trade, registering 3 tackles. Reliable single-season tackle/TFL splits for his combined 2025 season are not cleanly available, so they are omitted here.
Strengths
- Elite functional strength and is a powerful anchor at the point of attack, with a reputation as one of the strongest players in his draft class.
- Stout against the run, able to hold the line and two-gap as an interior nose tackle.
- Prototype size (6-3, roughly 337 pounds) for a space-eating defensive tackle.
Weaknesses
- Minimal pass-rush production (just 2.0 sacks across his Cowboys tenure); offers little as an interior disruptor.
- Never lived up to first-round draft status in Dallas, losing snaps as a rotational piece.
- Limited statistical impact overall, raising questions about his ceiling.
Fit With the 2026 Jets
Smith fits as a run-down interior body in Aaron Glenn’s aggressive 4-3 front, where his job is to occupy blockers and free up the Jets’ faster, more athletic edge rushers like top draft pick David Bailey. He is unlikely to be a centerpiece, but on a defense that just shed Quinnen Williams and is leaning into youth and draft capital, Smith offers cheap interior depth and a low-risk reclamation bet. With his fifth-year option declined, 2026 is effectively a prove-it season; a strong showing as a run-stuffing rotational tackle would let him stick beyond it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mazi Smith?
Mazi Smith is a New York Jets defensive tackle and former first-round pick (26th overall, 2023, by Dallas) who arrived in the November 4, 2025 trade that sent Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys.
How did the Jets acquire Mazi Smith?
Smith came to New York in the Quinnen Williams blockbuster, arriving alongside a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick.
What is Mazi Smith’s status entering 2026?
The Jets declined Smith’s fifth-year option on April 29, 2026, making 2026 a contract year and his best chance to establish himself as a rotational interior run-stuffer in New York.