The Dallas Cowboys may have overpaid in the eyes of some to acquire former New York Jets All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in exchange for a first-round pick in 2027 and a second-rounder in 2026, but getting rid of Mazi Smith may be the clearest example of addition by subtraction.
A Jets team that is kicking the old guard out of town by trading Williams, All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, and middling slot corner Michael Carter II, is also taking on rehabilitation projects, such as former Colts top pick Adonai Mitchell, wide receiver John Metchie, and Smith.
While Smith will likely be just a throw-in that helped facilitate the two picks changing hands, Mougey still seems to be holding out hope that Smith could eventually evolve into a player who is productive with the Jets. That's adorable.
Mougey called Smith a "talented, physical defensive tackle" who will help the Jets"in the run game." Mougey must not have watched many Cowboys games over the years, as Smith's inability to stop the run was such a big source of frustration that Dallas traded Micah Parsons to improve in that area.
Jets GM has hilarious comments on former Cowboys DT Mazi Smith
Smith has the size needed to be a good run-stuffing defensive tackle, but his inability to disengage from blocks and athleticism that doesn't translate from the weight room to the field have ultimately been what soured Dallas on the former Michigan man.
With Harrison Phillips starting and Jowon Briggs replacing Williams in the Jets' starting lineup, Smith is going to be a like-for-like replacement for Quinnen. However, the Jets are so thin behind those two at defensive tackle that Smith is going to get a chance to prove himself in this new scheme.
The Jets will likely come to the same conclusion the Cowboys did. Even though Smith has everything the team could want physically, he has proven to be a negative asset as a pass rusher and a run defender so bad that it almost defies logic for someone with his size.
The Cowboys went from a team that was tissue-soft up the middle and leaning on the disappointing Smith to one that is trying to figure out a way to get Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, and Kenny Clark all on the field at once. The Jets, meanwhile, will get a crash course in the brutal science of watching Smith play football.