On Thursday, Tyrone Crawford, a nine-year Cowboys veteran, teased some predictions for Dallas’s 2025 season. He named Mazi Smith and Marshawn Kneeland as players poised to make major strides on the Cowboys defense next season.
These two young talents, while at very different points in their careers, are facing similar situations heading into 2025.
Both need breakout campaigns if the Cowboys are going to view them as long-term building blocks on the defensive front.
With Smith turning 24 in June, and still unable to contribute in a significant way, and Kneeland coming off a meniscus tear, this young defensive line duo needs to make names for themselves before it’s too late.
Crawford seems to think they can pull it off, but the fanbase is weary, especially in the case of Smith.
Let’s take a look at both of these guys and what they need to bring to the Cowboys defense this fall.
Marshawn Kneeland: Second Year Standout?
Dallas drafted Kneeland with the 56th pick in the second round of last year’s draft. It was a surprise for some, as the defensive end depth chart looked solid with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, and Chauncey Golston leading the charge.
Fast-forward to now, and Lawrence is in Seattle, Williams is recovering from a torn ACL, and Golston is a New York Giant.
In short, Kneeland quickly became a critical member of the defensive line room this offseason.
The Western Michigan alum is still seeking the first sack of his NFL career, as he played in just 11 games and started one of those, but the team is banking on him to develop into a much larger role as he ages.
There is some bad news for Kneeland, despite his odds of increased playing time. He is turning 24 this summer, and could see competition for a starting role from a highly-touted draft pick if Dallas targets defense in April.
They’ve also added some juice to the room in free agency, with Dante Fowler Jr. and Payton Turner providing significant depth at defensive end.
Kneeland has to prove that he was worthy of his draft selection, and that he stands above these depth moves and any potential rookie that may join the team this spring. It is a prove-it year for this kid, no doubt about it.
Mazi Smith: Last Chance In Dallas?
After being drafted 26th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith has had a very rough start to his Cowboys career, though he did improve in 2024.
After starting in just three games in his rookie year, that number jumped to all 17 regular-season games in his sophomore season.
Aside from increased availability and opportunity, Smith’s statistics and performance took a jump as well. He finished the season with 41 total tackles and seven tackles for loss, signaling an overall improvement in his game.
Things did not get worse for the former first-round pick, which is undoubtedly positive, but the Cowboys defense still needs more from him.
He did not increase his sack or quarterback hit numbers despite that significant increase in playing time. That may not be his primary job, but it does show an overall weakness that limits his versatility and usage.
It would be a surprise to see Dallas avoid a defensive tackle in the draft, and with Smith’s rookie contract nearing the end, he desperately needs a breakout 2025 to keep his future prospects with the Cowboys alive.
It may not be entirely fair to call Mazi Smith a bust yet, but we are one stagnant season away from that being the reality. It’s time for the first-round potential to turn into ability with a big season in 2025.
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