The Miami Dolphins keep churning through additions after finalizing their 53-man roster, and the latest move brings in a familiar name with plenty of draft pedigree and very little production to show for it.
On Tuesday, Miami added interior defensive line help by signing Mazi Smith to the practice squad, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Meirov wrote, "The Dolphins have signed former Cowboys 1st-round DT Mazi Smith to their practice squad," and added, "Smith was recently released by the Jets but will stay in the AFC East."
Smith arrives in Miami after being let go by New York, and the Dolphins clearly see enough upside to give him a shot. At this stage, any player who can provide immediate depth is worth a look for a roster that could use help just about everywhere except running back and center.
The 25-year-old was taken No. 26 overall by the Cowboys in 2023, but his NFL career has not matched the billing. Across three seasons with Dallas and New York, Smith has struggled to make much of an impact.
He was moved last season as part of the Quinnen Williams trade, then appeared in only eight games and finished with no sacks and three total tackles.
In 42 career games, including 17 starts in 2024, Smith has totaled 2.0 sacks, 57 tackles, seven tackles for loss and six quarterback hits.
For Miami, the move is a low-risk bet on a former first-rounder who is still just 25. He may wind up as nothing more than practice squad depth, but the Dolphins are giving him a chance to earn a bigger role if the opportunity opens up.
In Other News...
Cowboys Just Sent A Tough Message To Jaydon Blue And Phil Mafah
The Cowboys backfield picture got a little clearer, and a little more crowded, after roster cutdown day. Dallas waived Jaydon Blue and Joe Milton, with the expectation that Milton could be brought back on the practice squad if he clears the rest of the league, while Blue and Phil Mafah did not end up being retained on the practice squad after going unclaimed on waivers. The move left the team looking to shuffle its depth at running back rather than keep everyone in the building.
Brian Schottenheimer said the decision on Blue was tied more to how other players performed than to any lack of effort from the rookie. Dallas also added Israel Abanikanda to the practice squad, giving the Cowboys another running back option to join four others already there. For Blue and Mafah, it was a tough reminder that even in a crowded camp, a roster spot is only as secure as the last practice and the last evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Cutdown Choice Is Raising Questions After One Strong Summer
Cutdown weekend brought the usual churn, but the Cowboys still managed to leave some eyebrows raised with a few of their roster calls. Quarterback Joe Milton was among the most surprising names to go, especially after a preseason that seemed to strengthen his case, while rookie offensive tackle Drew Shelton stuck around as part of the final mix. Safety Julius Wood was also cut in the reshuffle, and Miami wasted little time claiming him off waivers.
For Dallas, the moves fit the broader reality of a roster that had to be trimmed, but they also invite the kind of second-guessing that always follows when a young player turns heads in August and still does not make the team. Miltons release, in particular, stands out because of how much momentum he appeared to build over the summer, and it leaves the Cowboys with another decision that will be debated well beyond cutdown day. [Read more 🡒]
Jaydon Blue's Eagles Move Reopens A Cowboys What-If
Jaydon Blues path from Dallas to Philadelphia has already turned into one of those early-season roster stories that can linger around a division rival. The Cowboys moved on from the rookie during cutdowns, then did not keep him on their practice squad after he cleared waivers, leaving his next step to the Eagles, who added him to their practice squad. For Dallas, it is the kind of transaction that invites a second look, especially when a young back lands within the same NFC East neighborhood.
Blue now has to make his case in a crowded Philadelphia running back room, where opportunities are going to be hard to come by. His on-field ability is part of the appeal, but the challenge is just as clear: he has to separate himself fast enough to matter in a depth chart that does not make room easily. From the Cowboys side of the ledger, it is a familiar what-if, one of those decisions that can look routine in late August and a little more interesting once a division opponent gets involved. [Read more 🡒]