10:20 p.m. Thursday

The Dallas Cowboys selected Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith with the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Smith is a two-year starter who manned the middle of the defensive line for a team that won back-to-back Big Ten championships and made two consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff.

He made 88 tackles during his career and was first-team All-Big Ten and Michigan’s Defensive MVP in 2022 while playing on an elite defense.

The pick was the only selection the Cowboys were scheduled to have during Thursday’s first round.

Dallas will be back on the clock with the 58th overall pick in the second round Friday.

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5 p.m.

The Dallas Cowboys have the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which begins tonight in Kansas City.

This draft is the first time the Cowboys have held the 26th pick since 2007 when they traded up to the spot to select Purdue DE Anthony Spencer — who played with the team for eight seasons.

The last five players selected 26th overall were:
2022- NY Jets: Jermaine Johnson, DB, Florida State
2021- Cleveland Browns: Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
2020- Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
2019- Washington Commanders: Montez Sweat, DL, Mississippi State
2018- Atlanta Falcons: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Last year, Dallas selected Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith 24th overall.

The Cowboys need a tight end, as starter Dalton Schultz signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans. Dallas could also use some offensive linemen, a complementary running back with a more powerful running style, a defensive tackle, and a deep wide receiver.

Here are some of the latest first-round projections for the Cowboys from national experts:

Mel Kiper Jr, ESPN: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Todd McShay, ESPN: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

Matt Miller, ESPN: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: Steve Avila, C, TCU

Peter Schrager, NFL.com: Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State

Charles Davis, NFL.com: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Eric Edholm, NFL.com: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Jacob Camenker, The Sporting News: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today: Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson

Peter King, NBC Sports: Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State

Chris Simms, NBC Sports: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

Mike Florio. NBC Sports: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Conor Rogers, NBC Sports: Will McDonald IV, DE, Iowa State

Eric Froton, NBC Sports: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Kyle Dvorchak, NBC Sports: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

Outside the first round, the Cowboys have six other picks this weekend:

Round 2: 58th-overall

Round 3: 90th-overall

Round 4: 129th-overall

Round 5: 169th-overall

Round 6: 212th-overall

Round 7: 244th-overall