Packers reportedly plan to sign defensive lineman Mazi Smith to practice squad
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The gist
The Green Bay Packers worked out defensive lineman Mazi Smith on Monday and reportedly plan to sign him.
Smith, a 2023 first-round pick, is joining his fourth NFL team in two years.
Background
Mazi Smith is a defensive lineman taken 26th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 draft after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors at Michigan in 2022. He has played in 43 NFL games with 20 starts but has struggled to become a consistent contributor, and he lost his starting nose tackle job in Dallas when the Cowboys traded for Kenny Clark. The Jets released him in late August, the Dolphins claimed him off waivers and later cut him from their practice squad, and the Packers are now thin on the defensive line, with Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Ford and Warren Brinson all on injured reserve going into Week 7.
How it unfolded
- 2023The Dallas Cowboys selected Smith 26th overall in the 2023 draft.
- 2025Dallas traded Smith to the New York Jets as part of the deal that brought Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys.
- Aug 29, 2026The Jets released Smith, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
- Sep 1, 2026The Miami Dolphins claimed Smith off waivers.
- Oct 3, 2026Miami activated Smith from its practice squad.
- Oct 13, 2026The Dolphins released Smith from their practice squad while signing defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson.
- Oct 19, 2026The Packers worked out Smith, and ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported the team plans to sign him to its practice squad.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team noted Smith is a former Cowboys first-round pick who had been on Miami's practice squad.
- Caution
- One Dolphins-focused outlet wrote that Miami isn't saying what the problem is, but something is clearly missing between practices and games, as the Dolphins were his third team.
Still unverified
The Packers' plan to sign Smith to the practice squad is reported by ESPN's Rob Demovsky and has not been announced by the team.