Cowboy Roundup: Best possible Thanksgiving matchups, Mazi Smith's struggles, & more

The day that NFL fans have been waiting for since draft night is finally here. Today is schedule release day, breaking up the lull of the NFL offseason before OTAs and training camp get underway.

We'll find out when and where everyone's favorite teams will be taking on their opponents for the 2024-25 regular season and have something to drum up discussion about whether teams will over or underachieve this year.

Some games have already been officially announced, while other schedule leaks and rumors have been circulating online.

But by the end of the day, there will be no more speculation.

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While we navigate through the day and wait for the official schedule release, which will take place at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN and the NFL Network, let's check out some of the headlines from Cowboys Nation.

CeeDee Lamb is putting in the work

While it’s known that #DallasCowboys star WR CeeDee Lamb is not around for voluntary workouts, it’s clear he is still grinding as he awaits a new deal.

He shared clips of some workouts on his IG Story today.

(🎥: Itsviso on IG) pic.twitter.com/LvJcXIXDFK
— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) May 14, 2024

CeeDee Lamb is away from voluntary workouts while he waits for a lucrative contract extension, but that doesn't mean he isn't putting in hard work on the field to prepare for the upcoming season.

On Tuesday, Lamb shared some clips from his offseason workouts, and it's clear that he isn't taking any time off.

Lamb will make $17.991 million on his fifth-year option in 2024 and become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

With players like Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase and Minnesota Vikings All-Pro Justin Jefferson in line for blockbuster extensions, securing a deal with Lamb before the market is reset would benefit the Dallas brass.

Ranking the best possible Cowboys Thanksgiving Day matchups

One thing we know about the schedule release on Wednesday night is the Dallas Cowboys will be playing on Thanksgiving.

Dallas' Thanksgiving tradition began in 1966 under general manager Tex Schramm, and they have played on every Thanksgiving Day since outside of 1975 and 1977.

This year, they'll once again lineup on the field for the holiday, but who could they face?

Blogging the Boys came up with some of the most intriguing options, including the division rival Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Mazi Smith's struggles extend beyond the field?

It is no secret that Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith struggled in his rookie campaign after being selected in the first round.

Smith played in all 17 games but recorded only 13 total tackles, with three tackles for a loss and three quarterback hits. The former Michigan standout played in just 28 percent of the team's defensive snaps.

As he prepares for his sophomore season in the NFL, Smith has been rehabbing his shoulder after undergoing surgery and working to prepare for training camp.

Former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus, meanwhile, provided an interest note about Smith and suggested his struggles could go well beyond the field.

If your ears didn’t perk up when you heard Broaddus say this… you didn’t listen close enough.

This particular topic is personal to me & I’m deeply passionate about it.
— it’s a HUGE part of where my mantra “sports below the surface” originated.

We, as sports fans, FAR too… pic.twitter.com/MFLnYALwrf
— Landon Holifield ✭ (@TheLandoShow) May 13, 2024

"There should be some concern about Mazi's well-being," Broaddus said. "There's things of a young player when you deal with the expectations and then where you're at can be a little rough on players."

If this is the case, hopefully the Cowboys have a system in place to give Smith the support he needs as he continues adapting to the NFL.

The struggles that come with the transition from college to the pros is only amplified when you are 22 years old.

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