3 mistakes Cowboys made in the 2023 NFL Draft

1. Not understanding positional value in Round 1

The best NFL front offices show off their understanding of positional value during the draft. Spending the No. 26 pick on a run-stuffing defensive tackle proved the Cowboys aren’t a front office that grasps that concept.

The idea of adding Smith to the Cowboys’ defense is sound. He can occupy multiple blockers up front which will increase opportunities for his teammates to make plays. Parsons, in particular, should benefit from Smith’s arrival.

The issue here is that space-eating defensive tackles are not a precious commodity in the modern NFL. The only sort of defensive tackles who should be drafted in Round 1 are those who can get in the backfield and disrupt opposing offenses. Smith lacks the dynamism to merit a first-round selection from the Cowboys.

Smith is the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in this year’s draft class, but the Cowboys should have waited until Day Three to address this need. They could have acquired a serviceable starter at a non-premium position with a much lesser draft asset. Smith will help them but he won’t give the Cowboys as much long-term value as a blue-chip prospect they could have selected at a more important position.