Jerry Jones certainly has a way with words.
With the 26th overall pick, the Cowboys selected Michigan run-stopper Mazi Smith, the first defensive tackle Dallas has taken in the first round since Russell Maryland went No. 1 overall in 1991.
After the selection, owner Jerry Jones was asked where first-round pick Mazi Smith fell on their big board. He ranked around 13 or 14.
“Who gives a shit?” Jones said. “We got him.”
Mazi ranked fourth among defensive tackles as rated by NFL.com, but he was the third off the board behind Georgia’s Jalen Carter and Pitt’s Calijah Kancey.
Jones did say that while they were finalizing the Mazi Smith move, the Cowboys fielded at least one trade call. But the Cowboys owner didn’t offer any details.
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While it isn’t the flashy signing many wanted, Smith addresses a need that Dallas desperately needed to fill.
The Cowboys hope Smith can help shore up a run defense that was ranked 22nd in the NFL in 2022, giving up 129.3 yards per game.
In the three seasons that Mike McCarthy has been the head coach, the Cowboys have ranked 23rd, 19th, and 20th in run defense. The Cowboys allowed more than 136 yards rushing in eight regular-season games last year, including three games in which they gave up at least 192 yards.
Smith started his final 28 games at Michigan and was named a first-team All-Big Ten last season with 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a half sack.
