Green Bay Packers Sign Massive 337-Pound Defensive Tackle

The Green Bay Packers entered the 2026 season with high hopes for a deep and versatile defensive line that could support a contending roster under head coach Matt LaFleur. Injuries have tested that plan early, leaving the unit thinner than expected as the team sits at 4-2 in the NFC North.

On Monday, the Packers hosted a tryout for defensive tackle Mazi Smith, a former first-round selection.

ESPN reporter Rob Demovsky reported that the team is planning to sign Smith to the practice squad, according to a source.

Smith, who played college football at Michigan, was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys with the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent his first two-plus seasons in Dallas, appearing in 39 games and recording 57 tackles along with two sacks across his career to that point.

In November 2025, the Cowboys traded Smith to the New York Jets as part of the deal that brought defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to Dallas.

Smith appeared in three games with the Jets before the team released him during final roster cuts in late August 2026. He signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad on Sept. 1 and was activated for one regular season game this year before being released on Oct. 13.

The 25-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, measures 6-foot-3 and 337 pounds and was viewed as a powerful nose tackle prospect coming out of college, where he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022. His NFL production has remained modest, with limited snap counts after his initial years in Dallas and no starts in recent stints.

Green Bay’s defensive line has been hit hard by injuries this season. Javon Hargrave is out for the year with an Achilles injury, Warren Brinson is on injured reserve, and Jonathan Ford landed on IR with a calf issue. That has left a rotation built primarily around Karl Brooks, Devonte Wyatt and rookie Chris McClellan, with limited healthy depth behind them.

Adding a veteran body on the practice squad gives the Packers an option to call up if further absences occur or if they want extra interior size for upcoming games. Smith’s experience as a first-round investment still carries some upside for a team looking for rotational help rather than an immediate starter.

The move fits a pattern of the Packers monitoring available defensive linemen as the season progresses and the trade deadline approaches.

Practice squad signings like this allow the club to evaluate a player without committing a 53-man roster spot right away.

Smith will look to show he can contribute in practice and potentially earn a path back to active duty after bouncing between three organizations in the past year.

For Green Bay, the addition provides another layer of insurance while the coaching staff manages a thinner-than-planned front.

The Packers next play Sunday against the Detroit Lions in a key NFC North matchup.

This article first appeared on Packers Coverage and was syndicated with permission.

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!