4 Cowboys who could lose their starting job during the 2024 NFL Draft

1. DT Mazi Smith

As much as fans would love to see it, the Cowboys don't have the luxury of spending another high pick on a defensive tackle. Texas phenom Byron Murphy and Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton could come off the board in round one, but there are multiple other prospects who could threaten Mazi Smith's starting job.

Smith's former Michigan teammate Kris Jenkins is a possible candidate. Jenkins met formally with the Cowboys at the combine and said he'd be thrilled to play with Smith again. Beyond Jenkins, Ruke Orhorhoro out of Clemson, Duke's Dewayne Carter and Miami's Leonard Taylor III are other names to know.

Smith is going to get plenty of opportunities in 2024, but he's only a locked-in starter because the Cowboys let Johnathan Hankins leave in free agency. Smith has zero wind in his sails entering year two given he basically redshirted as a rookie. Any DT that Dallas drafts could give the former Wolverine a real run for his money to start next to Osa Odighizuwa.

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