Grades for every first-round pick

[TwoDeep3]

Every year a thread like this with some knucklehead journalist putting grades on players causes a reaction on this board.

Mosher has no clue at this point. Some players take longer to adjust to the league than others.

Just another gust of wind by a blow hard for clicks being posted here.

Any ranking of a player, coach, squad, team, or franchise that comes before the last second of the Super Bowl is bogus and speculative at best.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Classic case of stat sheet scouting by the media.

I watched a video showing all the Cowboys' tackles against the Patriots' running game last weekend and on almost all of them I saw Mazi Smith tying up two blockers. He's doing his job by freeing the others to make plays, which is what he was brought here to do.

 

[Frosty]

Mazi Smith at a C- is not good so far. Still lots of the season to go. Hope he keeps improving. Sucks having to draft so late in the 1st round. Most of the best talent gets taken in the top 22 picks of the 1st round.

I'll take the C- now....it's only been what 4games....Let's revisit Mazi's draft grade after year 3..... DL take longer to blossom

 

[CowboyRoy]

Did you pay any attention to pre and post draft analysis of the pick and the player? DT is a position that takes time to develop. Mazi wasn't as developed as you would like for a 1st rounder, but we had a need and his measurables/potential are through the stratosphere.

He was drafted, knowing that year 1 and perhaps year 2 will be developmental seasons. He was expected to learn, and fill in for big Hank when necessary. He provides a large, strong body that demands doubles when he's in, and he does well maintaining leverage, although I'd like to see more consistency. He isn't as good as Hankins yet, but has the talent to be one of the best....which is why you take the risk late in the 1st. To label him a bust is ignorant, premature, and absurd.

Then he shouldnt have been taken him in the first round or they should have taken someone else.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Can’t argue the Mazi grade at this point and so far we have yet to get any benefit at all from any of our 2023 draft picks, but let’s revisit in a couple of years or at a minimum after year one. They are still just learning the game and trying to get their feet wet.

Mazi should be a D or an F so far

 

[EenonyMoose]

C-minus is wayyyy too generous for a backup nose tackle.

 

[CowboyRoy]

C-minus is wayyyy too generous for a backup nose tackle.

Yah that grade should be a D or lower.

 

[SuperBowlz]

Guys like Mazi, Nolan Smith and other need an incomplete. Nolan Smith has been hurt and they have a ton of pass rushers. Mazi is going to be worked in slowly like most DTs. I don't know how Gonzalez has an A-, I thought he was leading in ROY so far?

Detroit looks to blown both of their 1sts. They had a top 10 pick and walked away from a RB who doesn't look as good as good as Swift and a MLB? They could have gotten Jalen Carter to match with Hutchinson and Christian Gonzalez. Why do you flip two good firsts for a RB and a LBer? They were on the rise too and blew it!

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Did you pay any attention to pre and post draft analysis of the pick and the player? DT is a position that takes time to develop. Mazi wasn't as developed as you would like for a 1st rounder, but we had a need and his measurables/potential are through the stratosphere.

He was drafted, knowing that year 1 and perhaps year 2 will be developmental seasons. He was expected to learn, and fill in for big Hank when necessary. He provides a large, strong body that demands doubles when he's in, and he does well maintaining leverage, although I'd like to see more consistency. He isn't as good as Hankins yet, but has the talent to be one of the best....which is why you take the risk late in the 1st. To label him a bust is ignorant, premature, and absurd.

Exactly, and it's a position that's needed addressing for a very long time.

 

[stiletto]

Did you pay any attention to pre and post draft analysis of the pick and the player? DT is a position that takes time to develop. Mazi wasn't as developed as you would like for a 1st rounder, but we had a need and his measurables/potential are through the stratosphere.

He was drafted, knowing that year 1 and perhaps year 2 will be developmental seasons. He was expected to learn, and fill in for big Hank when necessary. He provides a large, strong body that demands doubles when he's in, and he does well maintaining leverage, although I'd like to see more consistency. He isn't as good as Hankins yet, but has the talent to be one of the best....which is why you take the risk late in the 1st. To label him a bust is ignorant, premature, and absurd.

Why would anyone ever advocate drafting a 1st round project on Defense? They should be NFL ready and upgrade a starter or you do something else with the pick.

 

[Whiskey Cowboy]

Then he shouldnt have been taken him in the first round or they should have taken someone else.

You take the guy that you believe will have the biggest impact on the team, year 1 and long term. Mazi has the potential to be a top DT in the league. Great tackles are hard to come by, we were thin at the position, and we haven't picked one in the first since Russ Maryland. 32 years ago. That's why you make the pick. He wasn't my guy, but I understand the reasoning.

He's been adequate when called on this year in a NASTY line rotation, and based on his win rate last week, it seems he's already developing in the passing game.. which means he's motivated, and learns quickly. Excellent traits to have at a position that notoriously takes longer to develop than most. Even better when coupled with all-world talent. As a coach, these are the things that you look for in a prospect. Give him time. The kids going to be a star.

 

[Shane612]

The Cowboys didn't have 26 players with first round grades. So we have to keep in mind they were drafting 2nd round talent in the first round. Yes he was a first rounder, but.........

There still few first round worthy players still on the board when Dallas pick came. At least that's what I've read.

 

[jterrell]

Grading out rookies this early is completely and objectively nuts.

AT LEAST wait until the 8-9 game half-year mark. Good grief.

--
I am giving Mazi Smith a B-. He was drafted to help shore up the Dallas rush defense and he has done just that. He is never going to be a flashy win right now DT but he is a good interior presence that forces blocks from OL and keeps them off of the backers.
Dallas is giving up less than 11 points per game.
Still far better versus the pass; the run defense is doing enough to kill drives.
That wasnt always the case last year.

111 rush yards per game given up this year versus 129 rush yards per game given up last year.
If a team wants to pound us we can put in Mazi and big Hank together.
That has helped us in short yardage defense.

 

[jterrell]

There still few first round worthy players still on the board when Dallas pick came. At least that's what I've read.

There were no R1 graded players still available.
It was considered a shallow draft. 16-19 guys with pure R1 grade depending upon the source for the grade.

Regardless of what the Cowboys state I believe they would have went Dalton Kincaid in R1 had he not been taken.
But these were R2 guys who they were choosing amongst so need was a major factor. DI/TE were huge needs.

 

[kskboys]

We need Mazi to succeed.

But it doesn’t look good so far.

He’s too slow.

He's not slow. I would imagine what you're seeing is him having to think about what to do as he develops instincts.

 

[Shane612]

He's not slow. I would imagine what you're seeing is him having to think about what to do as he develops instincts.

I thought instincts were things that came naturally, like breathing.

 

[SuperBowlz]

I thought instincts were things that came naturally, like breathing.

Lol!