On Thursday night, the Dallas Cowboys made a big move in the NFL Draft by selecting Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith in the first round. They followed it up by selecting Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker in the second round on Friday. This is the second time in six years that the Cowboys have picked two Wolverines in the same draft.
The Cowboys had a strong defense in the 2022 season, ranking fifth in scoring defense with an average of 20.1 points per game. However, their rush defense struggled, allowing 129.3 yards per game, making a run-stuffer like Smith a much-needed addition to the team.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Smith proved to be one of the strongest players in the draft, completing 34 bench press reps, the most by any defensive player and second most at the combine.
Schoonmaker had a productive career at Michigan, although his final season was plagued by injuries. Despite that, he is expected to be a solid replacement for Dalton Schultz, who left the Cowboys for the Houston Texans in free agency. According to ESPN.com draft analyst Steve Muench, Schoonmaker uses his strength and agility to generate separation running routes, and he excels at catching the ball in traffic. He also has the strength to break tackles and generate yards after the catch.
In the previous draft in which the Cowboys selected two Wolverines, defensive end Taco Charlton and cornerback Jourdan Lewis were picked. However, Charlton failed to live up to his potential, recording only four sacks in 25 games before being released in 2019. In contrast, Lewis has become a solid veteran for the Cowboys, playing in 83 games for the team.
Cowboys fans are hoping that the 2023 draft picks from Michigan will prove to be more successful. With a strong defense and a solid offense, the Cowboys could be a contender in the coming season if their new Wolverines can make an impact on the field.
