The Seattle Seahawks are projected by many to pull off a trade with the Dallas Cowboys. One recent proposal has Seattle and Dallas working out a deal, but not the one you think. To be fair, the chances of edge rusher Micah Parsons going from the Cowboys to the Seahawks are slim.
But what about defensive tackle Mazi Smith? He was a first-round pick for Dallas in 2023 and has been an epic failure in his first two seasons. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the defensive tackle graded worse in his second season than as a rookie.
Mostly because his run defense was atrocious, but his pass-rush production went down, too, on a per-snap basis. He had eight total pass pressures each season, but he played nearly 80 more pass-rush snaps in year two.
Seattle Seahawks projected to make a trade with the Cowboys (but not the one you think)
ESPN's Bill Barnwell believes that something should be in the offing between Seattle and Dallas, though. The Cowboys would discard a first-round failure, and the Seahawks would get a player who once had promise.
So, why would the Seahawks even entertain adding the first-round bust? There is a connection. Smith played at the University of Michigan, and Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald was the defensive coordinator at the school in 2021. That season, Smith had a terrific year.
Maybe Macdonald would know best how to use Smith and how to get the most out of the player. Or maybe Smith simply doesn't have the raw athleticism or strength to truly be a good professional player.
In his rookie season, he was coached in Dallas by current Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde. Being a rookie in the NFL is difficult for most players, but even under Durde, Smith was horrifically bad against the run. The issue wasn't so much technique as skill set.
That isn't going to change if the Seattle Seahawks acquire him. Mike Macdonald might be able to make him a better player, but that doesn't mean an improved Smith would be good. Plus, Seattle currently has no room for Smith along its defensive line, one of the team's strengths.
To make the proposal worse, though, Barnwell (who is a fantastic writer, and this is meant as no disrespect to him) proposes that Seattle send a 2026 fifth-round draft pick for Mazi Smith. In next year's draft, the Seahawks currently have no picks after the fifth round. The move to add Smith would leave Seattle with only four draft picks.