August 12, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith (58) on the field in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys' 2023 draft class bottomed out when they were chose the worst group at the end of her rookie season. This year, a slow start in Dallas compounded the problem and the course slowly faded into obscurity.
Overshown (third round) was already highlighted for his unreal performance on Thanksgiving, but tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who Dallas took in the second round of this draft, has slowly emerged as a viable receiving option.
Schoonmaker finished the game against the Giants with five catches for 33 yards.
First-round pick Mazi Smith was expected to bolster the central defense, but fell out of favor with fans for his rather mediocre performance. Another poor start to the year left many wondering about his roster spot, but Smith has been climbing the ladder with his play of late.
His recent analysis sheds a positive light on how well he has been playing recently. Smith could shed the “draft bust” label if he can continue to produce performances like this.
2023 fifth-rounder Asim Richards, despite currently being on injured reserve, has developed into a good offensive player and could be the leading candidate for the team's swing tackle position next season. Richards has also played well as a replacement for injured starters.
Although there is still plenty of room for growth, the 2023 draft class is finally contributing to the Cowboys.
