Speculation is swirling right now about whether the Dallas Cowboys will move on from 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith, who has all but admitted he’s struggled to adapt to Matt Eberflus’ scheme.
The Cowboys historically don't move on from first-round picks before their third season. Taco Charlton was the rare exception. The 2017 first-rounder out of Michigan was released ahead of the 2019 campaign after Dallas failed to find a trade partner.
It remains unlikely that Dallas cuts Smith simply because their defensive tackle rotation isn't deep enough, but the same can't be said for other recent draft picks.
3 Cowboys draft picks who will definitely be cut after the preseason
1. Deuce Vaughn
Vaughn has had two seasons now to stick out in one of the lesser RB rooms in all of football, but it just hasn't come to pass. The Cowboys are arguably deeper at the position now than in Vaughn's first two years and they have a rookie in Jaydon Blue who has a very similar skill set and is simply a much better athlete.
Javonte Williams has all but been declared the starter, Blue and the versatile Hunter Luepke are both roster locks. The jury is still out on Miles Sanders and seventh-round rookie Phil Mafah, but the general consensus is that the final spot will come down to those two, not Vaughn.
Vaughn would be better served on a team that has a definitive workhorse - not an assortment of runners who all bring different skills to the table. There is a role somewhere in the league for Vaughn to be an effective scatback. It's just not with Dallas.
2. Tommy Akingbesote
Yes, we noted earlier that the Cowboys' DT room doesn't inspire much confidence. However, the coaching staff might already have a good idea of who will make the 53-man roster. It would be a shocker if Akingbesote, a seventh-round pick this past April, is on that shortlist.
Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas, Perrion Winfrey and Mazi Smith should all get on. Seventh-round pick Jay Toia is another possibility but the Cowboys might choose to stash him on the practice squad and pursue a veteran after cutdown day.
Either way, Akingbesote currently sits at the bottom of the depth chart. That includes fifth-year journeyman Earnest Brown. Akingbesote has played just 39 snaps in preseason action, which he has turned into a lowly 30.0 PFF grade. He needs a year on the practice squad.
3. Asim Richards
Richards is a difficult player to evaluate. He's appeared in 21 games over the last two seasons and can play left tackle and both guard spots. However, he's had a poor preseason while other backup offensive lineman have performed well, including Nate Thomas, rookie Ajani Cornelius, Hakeem Adeniji, T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman.
Richards' versatility worked in his favor his first two years, but the Cowboys are now flush with linemen who can play multiple positions. The 2023 fifth-round pick has played more guard than tackle in preseason - 24 snaps at left tackle compared to 47 at left guard, per PFF - but Bass and Hoffman are natural interior lineman and Dallas seems content with its tackles.
At this juncture, it would be more of a surprise if Thomas sneaks onto the 53-man roster than if he's cut loose, especially if he doesn't perform up to snuff in Friday's preseason finale.
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