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Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
1 Dallas Cowboys player with most to prove at OTAs
The post 1 Dallas Cowboys player with most to prove at OTAs appeared first on ClutchPoints. As the Dallas Cowboys embark on their 2025 OTAs, the spotlight shines brightly on one player in particular: defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The former first-round pick out of Michigan finds himself at a pivotal crossroads in his young NFL career, with expectations, pressure, and competition all reaching new heights. For Smith, OTAs are not just a routine part of the offseason, they are a proving ground, an opportunity to silence doubters, and a chance to establish himself as a foundational piece of the Cowboys' defense. The Weight of First-Round Expectations Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Mazi Smith entered the NFL with considerable fanfare. As the Cowboys' first-round selection in 2023, he carried the hopes of a franchise desperate to shore up its defensive interior. Dallas had not taken a defensive tackle in the first round in over 30 years, making Smith's arrival a landmark moment for the organization. His collegiate pedigree, highlighted by his inclusion on Bruce Feldman's Freaks List, suggested a rare blend of size, athleticism, and raw power that could transform the Cowboys' run defense. Advertisement However, the transition to the NFL has not been seamless. Smith's rookie season was widely regarded as disappointing, marred by struggles to hold his ground, maintain gaps, and generate consistent pressure. His sophomore campaign showed modest improvement, but he still ranked among the league's least effective defensive linemen in several key metrics. The Cowboys' coaching staff remained patient, but the team's persistent struggles against the run, ranked among the NFL's worst in 2024, kept the pressure on Smith to deliver. Now, entering his third season, Smith faces a critical juncture. The Cowboys have not lowered their expectations for him, even as the rest of the league has recalibrated its assessment of his ceiling. Internally, Dallas is counting on Smith to develop into at least an average NFL starter, capable of anchoring the defensive line and helping to fix the team's most glaring weakness. Externally, questions linger about whether he has already reached his peak and whether the Cowboys need to look elsewhere for answers. The Ripple Effect of Smith's Performance Smith's performance at OTAs will have far-reaching implications for the entire Cowboys defense. The team's inability to stop the run has been a recurring issue, and the consequences have been costly, most notably in last season's playoff loss to Green Bay, where the Packers' ground game ran wild. With new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus at the helm, the Cowboys are determined to make run defense a priority, and Smith's development is central to that mission. Advertisement The arrival of rookie Jay Toia, a seventh-round pick out of UCLA, adds another layer of intrigue. Toia has already earned first-team reps during OTAs, signaling the coaching staff's willingness to explore all options in the quest to improve the defensive interior. While the expectations for Toia are modest, his early promotion is a clear message to Smith that nothing is guaranteed, and competition will be fierce. If Smith fails to rise to the occasion, he risks losing snaps and perhaps his starting role to a rookie or a potential veteran addition later in the summer. Beyond the depth chart, Smith's performance will set the tone for the entire defense. The Cowboys have invested heavily in their edge rushers and linebackers, but those players can only thrive if the defensive tackles do their job. A strong, consistent presence in the middle allows linebackers like Kenneth Murray Jr. and Marist Liufau to flow freely to the ball, while also freeing up edge rushers Micah Parsons and Dante Fowler Jr. to attack quarterbacks. If Smith can hold his ground and command double teams, the entire defense will benefit. Smith's journey has been complicated by constant change. In his first two seasons, he played under two different defensive coordinators, each with their own scheme and philosophy. Now, with Eberflus installing a new system, Smith must adapt once again. The hope is that stability and a system tailored to his strengths will help him unlock his potential. Eberflus has expressed optimism about Smith's ability to take the next step, praising his explosiveness and athleticism. But words only go so far; Smith must prove it on the field. The stakes could not be higher. The Cowboys' schedule is daunting, featuring matchups against some of the league's most potent rushing attacks, including the Philadelphia Eagles, led by Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley. If Smith and the defensive line cannot hold their ground, the Cowboys will be in for a long season. Conversely, if Smith can rise to the challenge, he could help transform the defense from a liability into a strength. As OTAs unfold, all eyes will be on Mazi Smith. For a team with championship aspirations, the time for excuses is over. It's time for Smith to step up and prove that he can be the player the Cowboys envisioned when they called his name in the first round.
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Do the Cowboys have unrealistic expectations for this first-round pick in 2025?
Do the Cowboys have unrealistic expectations for this first-round pick in 2025? The Dallas Cowboys haven't lowered their expectations for Mazi Smith much over the years and remain bullish on his role in 2025 Revisiting expectations is an important part of the evaluation process. It recalibrates narratives and helps to set future expectations. For a slow developing player like Mazi Smith, it provides a winnable playing field amidst constant scrutiny. The elephant in the room and the scarlet letter sure to bias evaluations is Smith's draft pedigree and the immediate expectations that came with it. As athe 2023 first-round pick, Smith came to the Dallas Cowboys with sky-high expectations. He was a draft prospect from a major football program in Michigan and topped Bruce Feldman's Freaks List as icing on the cake. Smith was an undeveloped pass rusher, but he had strength, stoutness and an athletic profile that made that appear to be nothing more than a bump in the road. Obviously, his shortcomings as a pass rusher proved to be a much bigger issue than anyone expected and his difficulties getting off the ball, holding up against blocks and stopping the run were equally as troublesome. Year 1 for Smith was nothing short of a bust. Expectations understandably changed in his second season. To those outside the organization, Smith was no longer looked at as a budding star but rather a guy just trying to crack a rotation. Internally the expectations changed but they still continued to run high. The Cowboys parted with top 1-tech defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and essentially handed the starting job to Smith. It was a big opportunity for a player who graded at the very bottom of the league a year before, but a statement of faith and expectations from the franchise who drafted him. Did Mazi Smith meet expectations in 2024? Smith showed improvement in his second NFL season but given the role the Cowboys asked him to play, he unquestionably fell short of expectations. For the second time in as many seasons Smith graded as one of the worst interior defensive linemen in the NFL, struggling to maintain his gaps, stop the run, or offer pressure. He again struggled to get off on the snap from which he found it nearly impossible to recover. What are Mazi Smith expectations in 2025? Once again, the Cowboys have pushed Smith into a key role this season. Despite his struggles in all areas of the game, he's the favorite to start next to Osa Odighizuwa at DT in 2025. Dallas will likely add a veteran 1-tech to the mix between now and training camp, but that player will probably be nothing more than rotational. The expectations aren't that Smith will suddenly lead the NFL in interior pressure, become an overnight Pro Bowler, or be the second coming of Russell Maryland as a run-stuffer. Expectations aren't that he's going to be the source of highlights or suddenly grade well in Pro Football Focus' often problematic IDL grading process. Expectations are Smith becomes a player of average starting ability in 2025. Based on the first two seasons of work, those are lofty expectations, but expectations nonetheless. The Cowboys are asking Smith to live up to his pedigree and achieve what his athletic profile indicates he can achieve. They need Smith to be stout against the run, maintain the front of the pocket in passing situations and play like an asset rather than a liability. Is that too much to ask for? Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Could undrafted free agent Da'Quan Felton make New York Giants' 53-man roster?
Could undrafted free agent Da'Quan Felton make New York Giants' 53-man roster? The New York Giants just completed what they believe will be another banner draft. The seven players they selected are expected to augment their roster and help build for the future. They also signed some interesting rookie free agents after the draft. Teams find all kinds of hidden gems after the draft. This year's group has several interesting names but one seems to stick out here with the Giants: Virginia Tech wide receiver Da'Quan Felton. Brent Sobieski of Bleacher Report has identified Felton as a player who could crack the team's 53-man roster this summer. The Giants signed seven undrafted wide receivers. Virginia Tech's Da'Quan Felton garnered the most interest. The 6'5", 213-pound Felton is another vertical presence, but he didn't produce at a high level due, in large part, to inconsistent quarterback play. The Giants hope they can take his physical traits and develop into something more. Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic also named Felton as the Giants' top UDFA this spring. The Giants mostly returned the same group of receivers as last season. But given the sheer number of wide receivers on this UDFA list (five), it's clear they still view the position in need of some competitive depth. Enter Felton, who is the best available receiver from Brugler's 'The Beast' and an alum of Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List.' The 6-foot-4, 214-pound Felton has 'upside as a third-level threat,' Brugler said, but he needs to refine his 'route running and finishing skills to capitalize on his physical advantages.' Felton's production dipped in 2024 (32 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns versus 38 catches for 667 yards and eight TDs in 2023), but in terms of the Giants' need and his abilities, Felton stands as good a chance as anyone on this list. The Giants need a big body in their wide receiver room—one that can get downfield and cause a mismatch. Their top wideouts are all smallish (Malik Nabers, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt), with Darius Slayton the tallest at 6-foot-1. The Giants did sign 6-foot-4 Lil'Jordan Humphrey and 6-foot-2 Zach Pascal in free agency but neither is a deep threat.
New York Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ranking the Giants' 13 UDFAs: Who has the best shot to make the team?
The New York Giants have enjoyed a run of good luck mining the undrafted free-agent market, so can we expect them to find another contributor or two this year? While the odds may be against it, the Giants' recent history tells us they might. In 2022, they found linebacker Tomon Fox, who played in 16 games for the Giants that year, tallying 24 tackles and a sack. He remains a member of the team. In 2023, quarterback Tommy DeVito became one of the most famous UDFA stories in recent memory, leading the Giants to three wins down the stretch. And last year, the Giants signed defensive lineman Elijah Chatman, who attended rookie minicamp as a tryout. Chatman then appeared in all 17 Giants games, tallying 21 tackles and a sack. The team also got contributions from UDFA offensive lineman Jake Kubas and defensive lineman Casey Rogers, while kicker Jude McAtamney, who was signed as an international exemption on the practice squad, saw action in one game. Advertisement As these players exemplify, UDFAs can quickly become useful assets. However, while fans might be rooting for these underdog stories, the reality is that as the Giants' roster improves, the fewer chances there are for players like this to succeed. As of now, the Giants' 2025 class of UDFAs includes 13 members. We're going to break down each one — with some help from Dane Brugler's 'The Beast' — while ranking how likely we think they are to make an impact for the Giants this season. Remember, it's still early. We haven't seen these players suit up for the Giants, meaning there's no way of truly knowing who might earn a spot, so consider these some educated guesses: The Giants mostly returned the same group of receivers as last season. But given the sheer number of wide receivers on this UDFA list (five), it's clear they still view the position in need of some competitive depth. Enter Felton, who is the best available receiver from Brugler's 'The Beast' and an alum of Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List.' The 6-foot-4, 214-pound Felton has 'upside as a third-level threat,' Brugler said, but he needs to refine his 'route running and finishing skills to capitalize on his physical advantages.' Felton's production dipped in 2024 (32 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns versus 38 catches for 667 yards and eight TDs in 2023), but in terms of the Giants' need and his abilities, Felton stands as good a chance as anyone on this list. The 6-foot-3, 198-pound Collins had 'draftable traits,' Brugler wrote, so even though he didn't get picked, he's the kind of receiver you want your team to bet on in this process. As a 'loose, limber athlete, Collins can alter his pacing mid-route and flashes a second gear to run under the deep ball.' On the downside, his execution is lacking and focus drops are an issue, Brugler said. Collins tallied 41 receptions for 490 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. Thread of Relative Athletic Scores for the Giants' UDFAs WR Beaux Collins: 9.09 6'-3'201 lbs Elite explosion grade — Doug Analytics (@Doug_Analytics) April 27, 2025 If you're the Giants, and you just drafted Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, why not also pick up one of Dart's favorite targets? The 6-foot, 201-pound Wells struggled to maintain a high level of play in his lone year at Ole Miss, but he still finished with 28 receptions for 553 yards and six touchdowns. So, while there's familiarity with Dart, and the talent is there, Wells' 'lack of consistency getting open and finishing catches was a problem' last year, Brugler said. Still, considering the Dart connection, color us intrigued. JUICE. WELLS. 🧃@JaxsonDart ➡️ @juicew3lls — Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 31, 2024 After Deonte Banks' struggles as the No. 1 cornerback last year, the Giants brought in veteran Paulson Adebo this offseason. Last year's rookie Dru Phillips showed promise in the slot, and Cor'Dale Flott offers backup experience in the slot and on the boundary, but there's still space in the room for another cornerback. While the Giants drafted Korie Black in the seventh round, the 6-foot, 189-pound Fortune could make an impact. Fortune 'needs to play with improved discipline, both in coverage and run support, but his ball awareness and fluidity will translate well to the pro game,' Brugler said. Advertisement Similar to improvements made in the cornerback room, the Giants heavily invested at safety this offseason, as well. They signed veteran safety Jevon Holland to a lucrative deal to play alongside Tyler Nubin, who showed promise in his debut season. Dane Belton can be a serviceable backup, but again, there's room for more depth at this spot. The 6-foot-3, 197-pound Paige appeared in 53 games for Michigan, including making 32 starts — four as a big nickel. Paige offers some positional flexibility, and he's got special teams experience, which could be an appealing asset. The Giants didn't spend a lot on their offensive line this offseason, but they did add a lot of depth pieces behind the returning starting five, so it'll be a tough road for the 6-foot-3, 298-pound Williams to make the team. It's also worth noting that the Giants drafted Purdue's Marcus Mbow in the fifth round (and viewed him as a potential fourth-rounder). Still, you can never have too much offensive line depth, and if Williams — who has experience at guard and tackle — can prove he's got more upside than some of New York's low-cost veteran additions, he'll have a chance. Yet another wide receiver! See what I mean about the Giants doing their due diligence on finding depth for the summer? The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Bly is the son of 11-year NFL defensive back Dre Bly. After three seasons at Old Dominion, Jordan Bly tallied 32 receptions for 333 yards in his one year at Gardner-Webb. Bly was the first receiver on Brugler's 'best of the rest' list in 'The Beast.' DANCE PARTY 🕺 @bly_jordan #BigSouthOVCFB | @GWUFootball — OVC-Big South Football Association (@BigSouthOVCFB) October 19, 2024 As with Dart and Wells, there's another 2025 draft pick connection. Delancy played three seasons at Toledo alongside this year's third-round pick Darius Alexander. The 5-foot-9, 186-pound Delancy spent his final college year at Wisconsin, making six solo tackles in 11 games. While the CB room might be getting more crowded, Delancy's special teams experience could help him earn a roster spot. Advertisement The Giants brought back all of their tight ends, with last year's fourth-rounder Theo Johnson the presumed starter. Chris Manhertz and Daniel Bellinger are veterans, while the team added Thomas Fidone II in the seventh round. That means the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Terry is a long shot to make the squad. He'll have to show value on special teams in addition to boasting potential at tight end. McCormick finished his collegiate career with 273 total tackles, including nine tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 24 passes defended. The 6-foot, 211-pound McCormick will need to bring those ball-hawking skills along with special teams acumen to improve his chances. The final receiver of the group, Cambre offers more for his special teams potential than his receiver profile. The 5-foot-11, 189-pound Cambre tallied just 10 career catches at Louisiana, so unless he's a special teams monster, a roster spot could be an uphill climb. Dalen Cambre is a WR prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.18 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 313 out of 3815 WR from 1987 to — Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 12, 2025 As we get to the bottom of the rankings, this is more about the fit than the player. Tyrone Tracy Jr. emerged as the team's primary back last year as a rookie, and the Giants added a physical complement with their fourth-round selection of Cameron Skattebo. They also still have veteran Devin Singletary under contract along with 2023 fifth-rounder Eric Gray. So, unless the Giants move on from either Singletary or Gray, there's not a lot of room for the 5-foot-10, 218-pound Baker. Similar to the running back room, there's not a ton of need for depth at outside linebacker. The Giants' group is officially stacked. They were already highly invested in the position before drafting Abdul Carter with the No. 3 pick. Now, there's a talented trio to rotate along with quality veteran depth. That makes 6-foot-2, 249-pound Ford's path to a roster spot among the most difficult of the Giants' UDFAs. (Photo of Da'Quan Felton: Ryan M. Kelly / Getty Images)
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dolphins add 4 intriguing options at WR in undrafted free agency
Dolphins add 4 intriguing options at WR in undrafted free agency The Miami Dolphins wasted no time diving into undrafted free agency and made wide receiver a priority. Just minutes after the end of the 2025 NFL draft, the Dolphins came to terms with four wide-outs after passing on the position during the seven rounds of the draft. Andrew Armstrong, WR, Arkansas At 6'4, Armstrong is a tall "X" option with an expansive catch radius to go up and get footballs over defensive backs. He tracks the ball well and can move the chains while making catches through contact. While he's not the fastest player, Armstrong has a pro-ready frame and was projected by some to be a sixth-round pick. He's a willing blocker, which is area that's important to head coach Mike McDaniel. Armstrong finished 2024 with 78 receptions, 1,140 yards, and a touchdown while averaging 14.6 yards per catch. Monaray Baldwin, WR, Baylor Baldwin is a 5'9 slot receiver with 4.32 speed, who averaged 16.9 yards per reception over his four-year career at Baylor. He upped that to a 17.7-yard average in 2024, showing off his big-play ability and track-star speed. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic wrote on his Freaks List that Baldwin was clocked at 23.16 miles per hour -- a number no NFL ball carrier reached in the 2024 season. Baldwin also has punt return experience. Theo Wease, WR, Missouri After four years at Oklahoma and two with Missouri, Wease is a seasoned prospect and it shows in his ability to track the ball. He has great hands, the ability to create separation, and can find soft spots in zone coverage. At 6'3, Wease uses his size very well and can make catches in traffic. While speed is lacking and Wease doesn't have much breakaway ability, he can pick up yards after the catch. He's a solid and tenacious blocker as well. A.J. Henning, WR, Northwestern Henning is a 5'10 slot receiver with punt returner ability, who played three seasons at Michigan and finished his college career with two years at Northwestern. In the last four seasons, he averaged 8.6 yards per punt return and averaged 11.3 yards in 2024. As a pass catcher, Henning scored four touchdowns in each of his two seasons with Northwestern. He also was a factor in the rushing attack with 47 collegiate carries.
