The helmet of New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (not pictured) rests on the field before the game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
It's cut weekend in the NFL, as each team must bring the roster down to 53 players. The New York Jets made a final decision on one player who was part of the deal that sent Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys.
Reports indicate that former first-round pick Mazi Smith is being released by the Jets, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. After initially playing as the backup defensive tackle, the organization decided to go in a different direction before the start of the new season.
“Jets are releasing defensive tackle Mazi Smith, who was included in last season’s trade with Dallas for Quinnen Williams,” Schefter reported.
The deal that sent Smith to New York was a mid-season move last year. He appeared in eight total games last season, three of which were with the Jets. Mazi Smith finished the 2025-26 campaign with just three combined tackles, as it was a notable drop-off from his first two years in the league.
Smith was initially viewed as the replacement defensive tackle in New York once the club dealt Quinnen Williams away. Instead, the 25-year-old interior defensive lineman became a cut candidate after just three years in the NFL. He should have a chance to sign elsewhere, or even sign back with the Jets to join the practice squad. Considering his youth and the fact that he was drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith could land on his feet somewhere.
With Mazi Smith out of the picture, Harrison Phillips will likely serve as the club's starting defensive tackle. Meanwhile, T'Vondre Sweat will play the nose tackle position. Rookie Darrell Jackson Jr. has an opportunity to serve as an immediate backup for both positions.