Mazi Smith reacts to Cowboys' addition of veteran DT Jordan Phillips

The Dallas Cowboys successfully negotiated with one of their NFC East rivals this week to add defensive tackle Jordan Phillips to the defensive line room, but what does the move mean for second-year tackle Mazi Smith? The team’s first-round draft pick last year had little run as a rookie but he has the opportunity to breakout this season for Dallas. Adding Phillips to the mix complicates things a bit, but according to Smith, the more competition there is, the better.

“Yeah, I know all about Jordan Phillips,” Smith told reporters on Thursday. “He’s made a lot of plays. He’s a vet in this game and when you’re able to add that to the room, iron sharpens iron. That’s what you want. You want a room full of competition. You don’t want [any]body to relax. This is football, you know what I’m saying?”

The former Michigan star was only a rotational piece for Dallas last season. Smith finished the 2023 season with 13 tackles in 17 games. He recorded his first sack in a December loss to the Bills. He has a long way to go in terms of development, but he sees Phillips’ experience as something he can learn from, not shy away from. Phillips is entering Year 10 in the league this season.

“You can learn something from somebody without saying anything or hearing anything they’re saying,” Smith said. “[But] me and Jordan Phillips are gonna have conversations. Just watching how they go about their business.

“You see vets and players who’ve done this for 11 years, they’ve started in the NFL for [a long] time and that’s not an easy feat. So when you’ve got somebody coming in that’s done anything like that, first of all, that’s respect; and then you look to them and see what they’re doing and seeing what you’re not.”

Micah Parsons says Mazi Smith ‘has to’ be dominant

Mike McCarthy revealed this summer that Smith had to undergo surgery this offseason on his shoulder. His shoulder recovery, on top of gaining weight back, should have the former first-rounder competing for more reps this season.

Along with the coaches, Smith’s fellow defenders have high expectations for him going into his second year. Star edge rusher Micah Parsons made his expectations crystal clear at training camp.

“It’s not what I think he can be, it’s what Mazi has to be,” Parsons said Friday. “When you get to this business, there is no more of a choice or a can. It’s either you will or you won’t. They usually try to find someone else to do it if you can’t. It’s what Mazi has to be. He has to be dominant. He has to be a force… has to be that guy for us.

“… That’s why they drafted him in the first round,” Parsons added. “You’re not getting drafted in the first round not to be a productive talent. Not to be on the sideline. We drafted him to be in the game. That’s how much confidence I have. I don’t expect Mazi to do anything, it’s what Mazi has to do at this point.”