The Dallas Cowboys made a surprise pick when they drafted defensive tackle Mazi Smith out of Michigan with the 26th pick in the first round. The franchise hadn’t selected a DT in the first round since 1991 when they made Russell Maryland the first overall selection.
For those who had given up on the notion the Cowboys cared about drafting a run-stuffing DT, this was a stunning development. Smith will help a defense that has struggled to slow down rushing attacks over the last three years, and finished 22nd in the league last season while giving up almost 130 yards on the ground a game.
However, there were other options on the board when the Cowboys were on the clock. Here’s what the team could have done instead of drafting Smith.