Mazi Smith is seen as a pivotal piece in the Cowboys' defensive line, particularly after a disappointing rookie season where he recorded just 13 tackles and one sack. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 337 pounds, he was initially viewed as a future run-stuffing 1-tech but struggled when asked to play as a 3-tech under Dan Quinn. With Mike Zimmer returning as defensive coordinator, Smith is set to focus on the 1-tech position and is expected to start due to Johnathan Hankins’ absence. Vice president of player personnel Will McClay emphasized that Smith needs to elevate his game in year two, drawing on his college strengths of absorbing double-teams and making impactful plays, even if they go unrecognized on the stat sheet. The team believes Smith has the potential to improve with experience and is counting on him to help enhance their defensive performance.