Defensive tackle is not typically a position prioritized by the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas has rarely devoted much money or top draft resources to address the inside of their defensive line and have historically prioritized defensive positions like CB, LB, and DE.
According to figures from Over the Cap, their $14,450,752 dedicated to the IDL in 2023 is the sixth lowest in the NFL. Of the five teams who spend less than Dallas, only the Ravens made the postseason last year.
It’s been well-documented that Mazi Smith, Dallas’ 2023 first rounder, was the first DT the org has drafted in the first round in over 30 years. This not only makes the pick itself surprising but signals a possible change in philosophy within the front office.
It wasn’t as if Dallas had been completely neglecting the position over the past three decades. They devoted good money to players like La’Roi Glover, Jay Ratliff and Tyrone Crawford. They just didn’t treat it with the same ferocity as other positions and recently experienced a few more misses than hits in their player development.
If Smith lives up to his billing and reaches his lofty potential, he may change that trend for the Cowboys and ultimately provide some significant bang for the buck.