Cowboys depth chart: 3 players who could lose their jobs to rookies

Cowboys depth chart: NT Mazi Smith could take Johnathan Hankins’ job

The Cowboys traded to add Johnathan Hankins from the Raiders last October. The defensive lineman played just five games, starting three, before he landed on the injured reserve with a pectoral strain. He returned for two games in the playoffs.

Despite the relatively small sample size, Dallas saw enough to bring Hankins back in free agency on one-year deal for 2023.

But the Cowboys weren’t done adding run-stuffers to their defensive line. Their first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was Mazi Smith out of Michigan.

Realistically, Hankins should feel confident in his starting job with the 320-pound rookie likely playing more of a supporting role as he gets up to speed in the NFL trenches. However, whenever a team adds a player with the size and quickness of Smith, the temptation to get him out their immediately is high.

Where Hankins is a space-eater, Smith could do the same job while also bringing havoc-creating athleticism to the mix.

The Cowboys clearly see Smith as the future at the position. It’s just a question of how long before he breaks through to full-time starting action.