Cowboys Blog Official: cowboys draft

7/18/2026

The Final Verdict: Cowboys 2023 Draft Class Re-Grade Three Years Later

Jerry Jones and Will McClay took massive swings in 2023. Three seasons later, the tape reveals a historical failure.

Evaluating an NFL draft class the morning after the picks are announced is a fool’s errand. Legendary coaches like Tom Landry and Bill Parcells always preached the same rule: you must give a draft class three full seasons before you truly know what you have.

Now that we are in 2026, that critical three-year window has officially closed for the Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 draft class. With the benefit of hindsight and three seasons of on-field evidence, it is time to execute an official Cowboys 2023 draft class re-grade. To put it bluntly, the results are catastrophic. Only two players from this entire haul remain on the current roster, forcing the front office to spend premium resources fixing past mistakes.

Here is the definitive, pick-by-pick evaluation of the 2023 Cowboys draft.

The Early Rounds: Premium Capital, Minimal Return

First Round: Mazi Smith (Defensive Tackle)

Grade: F–

There is simply no way around it: Mazi Smith was an unmitigated bust. The front office completely whiffed on the evaluation here, and the pick set the interior defense back significantly. Dallas eventually cut bait, throwing Smith into a trade package for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams...(more)

7/05/2026

Anthony Smith Is the Most Underrated EDGE in the 2027 NFL Draft Profile

Packing an elite frame and massive production, Minnesota’s standout defensive lineman is forcing NFL scouts to take notice.

Draft season never actually ends. For front offices and talent evaluators, the search for impactful defensive line talent is a year-round obsession. As we look ahead to the upcoming college football season, one name is quietly flying under the radar but making a massive case to become a major riser: Minnesota defensive end Anthony Smith.

Thought by some to be a potential declaration last year, the Golden Gophers’ senior is primed to anchor the defensive front in 2026. If you are looking for a dominant force who can completely reshape an NFL defensive line, my Anthony Smith scouting report reveals a rare combination of physical traits and rock-solid production that forces its way into the day-two conversation — and potentially much higher.