Who is one player you were dead wrong about in recent years?

[CalPolyTechnique]

Mazi was always more myth than material.

Look at this awful career stat sheet. And don’t gimme the “nose tackles don’t put up stats nonsense.” Mazi’s numbers were putrid.

 

[kskboys]

I think all the "draft experts" had Mazi as a late 1 to early 2nd rounder.

He wasn't seen as a reach when he was drafted.

Unless you talk to real scouts.

 

[kskboys]

I know the draft experts here know better than anyone else, but I didn't read anyone before that draft who had him lower than the second round.

Mid-second day but first-round possibility. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mazi-smith-dt-michigan-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2023/

Round 1 or 2. https://www.nfl.com/prospects/mazi-smith/3200534d-4951-1850-a3da-289c89c7e5d4

Kiper on the pick, who he rated as a second-rounder: https://sports.yahoo.com/mel-kiper-jr-issues-surprising-203628557.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall “I have no qualms about it. Mazi Smith (26) is the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in this class, a 323-pounder who will instantly improve their run defense. Their D-line too often last season was blown up at the line of scrimmage, so adding an anchor like Smith will help the entire front seven. If you look at the other NFC East teams, Dallas needed to beef up to stop the run.”

McShay called him a plug and play NT and expected him to go at the end of the third round. https://www.si.com/college/michigan...rgh-steelers-new-england-patriots-todd-mcshay

Dane Brugler ranked him 38th among prospects. https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/news/mazi-smith-lions-scouting-report

After Dallas chose him, Brugler said: Smith plays with extraordinary power to welcome double teams or dismantle single blockers with his patient eyes and torqued hands. His football instincts are well developed to feel blocking pressures and track the football, however, he needs to be a more controlled finisher as a tackler. Smith might never light up the stat sheet with backfield production, but he will be an above-average NFL run defender and flashes pass rush potential with his natural leverage, body quickness and remarkable power. He fits multiple fronts, but he is ideally suited as a shade in the middle of the line, similar in ways to a bigger Brandon Mebane.

They were completely wrong about him, but no one who does the draft for a living thought Mazi was what many of you are saying.

Some did.

Here's the deal. A real GM would've done his homework. Jerry did not, because he does not.

 

[kskboys]

I have not seen any scouting reports that had him as a fourh- or fifth-round talent. You are pulling that out of thin air. He was a mid-second-rounder because of his uncommon strength. Most saw him as a nose tackle, and you don't generally draft those in the first round. We were among the teams who saw him as a NT who might could become a 3-tech.

Mazi topped Feldman's football freaks list for a reason. You can ignore those reasons if you like, but they are why he was a first-round pick.

You gotta start reading closer. His skillset looked like a 4th or 5th. Quit seeing what you want to see.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Jaylon Smith

When he broke out and chased down Desean Watson, he looked like he was going to be a stud lb'er. He had a probowl year in 2019 and then completely fell off. His knee couldnt hold up.

Both him and LVE were the ultimate tease that year and both quickly leveled out due to physical liabilities. Disappointing. For just a little bit, we looked like we might have the best LB core in the NFL. Felt the same way about our cornerbacks 2-3 years ago. Things change quickly in the NFL due to injuries. These guys deserve every bit of retirement pension they get.

 

[conner01]

Micha Parsons- I thought he wanted to be a cowboy for his career

I think he did

 

[Jipper]

I think he did

I don't think so, the childish way he acted during the preseason simply said its me me me....which is his prerogative- its prerty normal in today's nfl, I just thought he might be different but I was mistaken.

 

[js66]

Recent is subjective but a couple of guys I was hopeful about…

La’el Collins - thought we stole a top 15 draft pick.
Mo Claiborne - though we had a shut down corner.
The Great Rico Gathers - I thought we had Antonio Gates.
Randy Gregory - character flaws but top 5 talent!
Pac-Man Jones - thought he was going to turn it around as far as behavior and be a top end CB.

It goes way back… but one of the guys I remember wanting the most was James Hardy, a 6’5”, 4.49 sec WR drafted by Buffalo in 2008. RIP

I remember being happy the Giants selected Odel Beckham thinking he had no elite measurables and wouldn’t be a top WR.

I also though Jadeveon Clowney would be LT like.

 

[Dutton]

Shante Carver

 

[LowTech]

I felt sure Fred beard was going to be a bust. got that one wrong

 

[stuckindc]

I felt sure Fred beard was going to be a bust. got that one wrong

Ya, I was like ***?! Was so happily wrong about that. And sucks we didn’t get to see him for a full career. Especially with that oline. They were special

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Tom Brady. I thought they could’ve waited til the 7th round.

 

[Hardline]

Kyle Pitts.
I thought he was going to be a superstar. A TE that had the speed and rout running ability of a WR.
I even wanted to trade up to get him. I thought he was Antonio Gates level good.
He has put up impressive numbers though .

 

[RonWashington]

Sam Williams . His stats at Missouri drafted high his speed . I thought Dallas had a real weapon at EDGE that would collect sacks .

Nothing . He gets washed from the play not even pressures . And run support is terrible in setting the edge.

ST usually result in wiping out the punter thus drawing the penalty extending an already gassed Defense more field time to get exposed .

 

[Praxit]

Bobby Carpenter. Thought we was Randy White under hypnosis. .

 

[FVSTONE]

Jalin Hyatt.

I was ready to use our 27th overall pick in 2023 on him thinking he'd be a great #2 receiver to pair with Lamb.

Giants took him 73 overall and he has been a bust.

Of course we took Mazi Smith there so Hyatt would have been the better pick.

I thought Roy Williams was going to be an ALL PRO Cowboy for a decade and a half, but when the NFL rules committee banned his favorite tackle AND OCs found out that he couldn't cover TEs on passing downs he became expendable.........................

 

[DallasBlockersClub]

Jalin Hyatt.

I was ready to use our 27th overall pick in 2023 on him thinking he'd be a great #2 receiver to pair with Lamb.

Giants took him 73 overall and he has been a bust.

Of course we took Mazi Smith there so Hyatt would have been the better pick.

Too many to count

I suck at this

 

[stuckindc]

I thought Roy Williams was going to be an ALL PRO Cowboy for a decade and a half, but when the NFL rules committee banned his favorite tackle AND OCs found out that he couldn't cover TEs on passing downs he became expendable.........................

We could have traded down , got more picks and selected Ed Reed

 

[Chasing6]

Trance. I thought he would be out of the league already.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Kyle Pitts.
I thought he was going to be a superstar. A TE that had the speed and rout running ability of a WR.
I even wanted to trade up to get him. I thought he was Antonio Gates level good.
He has put up impressive numbers though .

I already have your misses accounted for earlier in the thread.