Mazi Smith - DT - Michigan - 26th overall

Mazi Smith was selected 26th overall in the 2023 NFL draft, which was the first defensive tackle taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round since 1991 but oh goody we all know how exciting his time at Dallas will be😭😭. In his rookie season he started all 17 games having a career high 44 tackles, one sack and 4 quarterback pressures. In the next season he wound up losing playing time to Kenny Clark, Solomon Thomas and rookie Jay Toia. He appeared in 5 games as a backup, had 3 tackles and was declared inactive in 3 contests. On November 4, 2025, the Cowboys traded Mazi Smith along with a 2026 second round pick (#44-Derrick Moore) and a 2027 first round pick (higher of theirs or the Green Bay Packers) to the New York Jets in exchange for defensive tackle, Quinnen Williams (LETS GO!!). At the jets he failed to become part of a weak defensive line rotation. He appeared in only 3 games as a backup, while making 3 tackles. On April 29, 2026, the Jets declined the fifth-year option on his contract, making him a free agent after the 2026 season. He is currently yet to be signed.

Luke Schoonmaker - TE - Michigan - 58th overall

In his rookie year, Schoonmaker was largely an afterthought in the Dallas offense behind Jake Ferguson. While he suited up for all 17 games, he didn't secure a single start. He managed a small 8 receptions on the year for 65 yards, though he did fall into the end zone twice so thats a W (unlike the rest of his career😭✌️). Year two saw a noticeable increase in opportunities. Schoonmaker had 6 starts in 17 games, catching 27 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown. While it was technically a step up, it still didn't scream "second-round value," (please understand that lol) especially with his role shifting heavily toward blocking rather than being a weapon. Now for this season any momentum he had built completely in the past vanished, literally 💀. Schoonmaker plummeted down the depth chart as undrafted second year player Brevyn Spann-Ford overtook him as the preferred blocking tight end. In 17 games, Schoonmaker grabbed just 14 passes for 132 yards and zero touchdowns, yeah 0 essentially becoming a ghost on the field. He went multiple stretches during the season without earning a single target. After that I wouldn’t mind trading him for a 7th, anyone willing to give a 7th?

DeMarvion Overshown - LB - Texas - 90th overall

Goodness me finally a decent pick😭😭. The hype train came to an end before his rookie year could even begin 💀. During Dallas second preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, Overshown suffered a torn ACL. He was sidelined for the entire 2023 season. in 2024, he proved he was the real deal. Overshown became a defensive spark plug, appearing in 13 games and 12 starts. He racked up 90 combined tackles, disrupted plays in the backfield with 5 sacks, and showed elite playmaking especially on Thanksgiving Day by taking an interception 23 yards back to the house for TD against the Giants. 2025 tho proved to be an incredibly frustrating step backward. Overshown struggled to find his footing in the rotation, appearing in just 6 games and registering 5 starts like literally how oh wait… injury. He managed only 28 combined tackles and failed to record a single sack, interception, or forced fumble.

Viliami Fehoko - EDGE - San Jose State - 129th overall

And back with these kinds picks again😭😭. For his rookie season He was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on November 18, 2023. He was activated on January 3, 2024. He didn't play a single snap in the regular season, spending 10 games on the inactive list and 7 on injured reserve. On November 26, 2024, Fehoko signed with the practice squad of the Washington Commanders. On January 28, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Commanders. Fehoko was waived on August 11, and reverted to injured reserve the following day after going unclaimed. He was released with an injury settlement a week later. On November 18, 2025, Fehoko signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. HOW DOES HE KEEP GETTING SIGNED?? He signed a reserve/future contract with Indianapolis on January 5, 2026. On April 30, 2026, Fehoko was waived by the Colts… oh expected. Also yes all that was Wikipedia my fault lol

Asim Richards - OT - North Carolina - 169th overall

Richards rookie year was mostly spent as a spectator. He squeezed his way onto the field (or should I say roster💀😭) for just eight games. His biggest moment came in Week 8 against the Rams, when he was forced into early fourth quarter duty as left tackle Chuma Edoga went down with an ankle injury. Outside of that tho he was completely an afterthought. The next year He showed some valuable stuff by proving he could slide inside to guard appearing in 13 games. When first-round draft pick Tyler Guyton went down in Week 10, Richards earned his first career start at left tackle against the fierce Philadelphia Eagles front, of all teams the eagles!?😭. The next year he expected to confidently hold down the fort as Dallas primary backup swing tackle. Instead it was a step back… oh wait where have we seen this story before. He got completely outplayed in training camp and passed on the depth chart by second year man Nathan Thomas. On August 26, 2025, during final roster cuts the Cowboys shipped Richards and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick to the saints for a 2028 6th round pick. What was the point of that trade.

Eric Scott Jr - CB - Southern Miss - 178th overall

Ok guys here this, i scored my first ever madden touchdown with him, literally so he is goated. To start off we liked cornerback Eric Scott Jr so much during the 2023 NFL Draft that they literally couldn't wait to grab him😭😭. Dallas packaged a future 2024 fifth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs just to leap up into the sixth round to secure the Southern Miss product. Imma say what is so special about a 6th rounder🥀. Scotts rookie season was completely nonexistent. He spent all 17 games holding a clipboard (ooh how exciting) He was declared a healthy scratch/inactive for every single contest of the season, never seeing a single snap of live regular season action. And If fans hoped year two would bring a breakthrough, they would’ve been wrong. Training camp brought a harsh reality check. Scott was instantly buried on the depth chart, getting outplayed by fifth round rookie Caelen Carson. Realizing the experiment had failed, the Cowboys cut their losses and waived Scott on August 26, 2024. Ironically, the Chiefs, the team that traded Dallas the pick to draft him, claimed Scott off waivers two days later. What followed was a dizzying roster carousel that I will not explain.

Deuce Vaugn - RB - Kansas State - 212th overall

DEUCE DEUCE DEUCE DEUCE THE GOAT, YESSSSSS!!!! The Dallas Cowboys provided one of the most emotional moments of the 2023 NFL Draft when Chris Vaughn, a longtime scout for the team, got to personally call his son, Deuce Vaughn to tell him he was being drafted in the sixth round. It was a beautiful story I mean what could possibly go wrong… Measuring in at a historic 5'5 Vaughn entered the league as the shortest running back ever recorded since the NFL Combine began tracking stats. While his tiny frame made him a preseason darling, opposing NFL defenses proved to be a lot taller and faster than college. Kinda expected lol. Vaughn spent his rookie year completely buried on the depth chart, operating as a third string running back. He managed just 23 carries for 40 yards and caught 7 passes before an ankle injury mercifully ended his season on the Injured Reserve list in January. He was a healthy scratch for 9 games. Year two didn't necessarily scream the explosive "Darren Sproles" role fans were hoping for. Vaughn remained a complete afterthought in the Dallas offense, appearing in just 8 games as a deep backup and sitting out another 9 contests as an inactive. He found a tiny bit more room to run scraping together 70 yards on 17 carries, but he still couldn't crack a meaningful spot in the rotation. But to stand on his side he was told to run the wrong way, literally tho. On August 26, 2025, Dallas waived him during final roster cuts. Two weeks later, the Denver Broncos signed him to their practice squad. He spent the entire year holding bags in practice, eventually signing a futures contract. However, his time in Denver was short-lived and on May 12, 2026, the Broncos waived him to clear roster space for wide receiver Michael Woods II. With the NFL seemingly shutting its doors on the pint sized playmaker, I mean giant… duh he is huge. Vaughn decided to take his talents to spring football. On May 30, 2026, he signed with the Orlando Storm of the United Football League. Goodbye Deuce😢

Jalen Brooks - WR - South Carolina - 244th overall

Brooks spent the vast majority of his rookie campaign watching from the sidelines. He was declared inactive for 11 contests, failing to crack a heavily top-heavy wide receiver rotation. When he did occasionally get onto the field for 7 games, he recorded a modest 6 receptions for 64 yards, operating strictly as a depth person. But that’s what to expect for a 7th rounder, not bad. Year two actually brought some signs of life. Brooks suited up for 14 games and even managed to secure his first career start in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. Although everything vanished in the 2025 preseason when he was pushed right down the depth chart. The Cowboys cut him during final roster cuts and though they re-signed him to the practice squad the next day, his luck ran out. Elevated in Week 5 to play against the New York Jets, Brooks suffered a severe knee injury. Just a few weeks later on October 25, Dallas cut him loose entirely with an injury settlement. But don’t worry guys, the Arizona Cardinals swooped in to sign Brooks to their practice squad. Thanks to a massive wave of injuries to Arizona’s receiving corps, Brooks was elevated three times before being officially promoted to the active roster on December 16, 2025.

Overall Jerry WTH did you do in 2023.