Mazi Smith signs to practice squad
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The gist
The Green Bay Packers signed defensive tackle Mazi Smith, a 2023 first-round pick, to their practice squad.
Smith, cut by Miami, joins a Packers D-line hit by injuries.
Background
Mazi Smith is a defensive tackle drafted No. 26 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 out of Michigan. He never finished his rookie contract in Dallas: after being demoted to a backup he was sent to the New York Jets in the package for Quinnen Williams, and the Jets declined his fifth-year option. He spent the end of the 2025 season and this year's preseason with the Jets, then landed on Miami's practice squad in early September 2026 and appeared in one game before being cut. The Packers, who worked him out Monday morning, need defensive-line depth with Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Ford and Warren Brinson on injured reserve.
How it unfolded
- 2023The Dallas Cowboys selected Smith No. 26 overall; he played all 17 games as a rookie with one sack and 13 total tackles.
- 2024Smith posted his most productive season: 41 total tackles, 22 solo and one of his two career sacks.
- 2025Smith spent the end of the 2025 campaign and this year's preseason with the New York Jets.
- early September 2026Smith joined Miami's practice squad and got into one game with the Dolphins before being cut.
- Oct 19, 2026Green Bay brought Smith in for a tryout that morning, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
- Oct 19, 2026The Packers signed Smith to the practice squad, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky; the transaction list confirmed the move that evening.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- ESPN's Rob Demovsky and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported the workout and signing, framing it as a depth move for an injury-hit Green Bay defensive line.
- Support
- Packers player Micah Parsons, Smith's former Cowboys teammate, said in 2024 that Smith "has to be dominant" and "has to be that guy for us."