Cowboys Source: Michael Mayer & Mazi Smith on Wish List in NFL Draft
FRISCO - Maybe these two (of a large bundle of) targeted players for the Dallas Cowboys in this NFL Draft will end up both going too high to make a particular vision come true. But team sources have informed CowboysSI.com that at No. 26, they consider Michael Mayer, the Notre Dame tight end, to be one of the best two players at that position. (Along with Utah's Dalton Kincaid.)
And additionally, they consider Mazi Smith, the Michigan defensive tackle, to be "steal-level'' as a second-round pick, with Dallas selecting at No. 58.
Could Mayer go well ahead of 26? Sure. Could Smith go well ahead of 58? Sure.
But among the handful of two-round double "gets'' that are being dreamed about here inside The Star (another vision involves TCU guard Steve Avila still hanging around at 58), this is one that is being discussed ... probably in part because in one of the team's 30 "mock draft simulations,'' the first two rounds fell just right.
Having a tight end who can "do it all" would be welcome for Dallas, and after losing Dalton Schultz via free agency to the Houston Texans, another addition to the room makes some sense. Mayer's production for the Fighting Irish last season (809 receiving yards and nine touchdowns) shows he can be a viable option in the pass game for Dak Prescott.
Labeled as the "next Jason Witten," Mayer will however be just as useful in the run game as he will be in the passing game.
Again, Dallas' following selection is at No. 58, and coordinator Dan Quinn's unit would love to be getting a defensive tackle from Michigan who lives in the offensive backfield. Dallas is already armed with firepower most of the NFL would envy in Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams and Dante Fowler. But a playmaker at defensive tackle? That would come in handy.
Ranked as the second-best defensive lineman at the 2023 Combine by NFL.com in terms of pure athleticism, Smith (6-3, 337) would bring size to the Dallas defensive line but also quickness.
Can Dallas really get what it considers a pair of guys each worthy of being considered at 26 by using 26 and 58? That's one of the Cowboys' dreams.
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