Will McClay analyzes the Cowboys’ best rookies, realistic expectations for Mazi Smith and more

Will McClay, vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, is in his 23rd season with the franchise. He has directed the Cowboys’ draft since 2014 and has served in his current role since 2017.

To get some behind-the-scenes information about the upcoming season, The athlete met with McClay on Friday morning to discuss the overall makeup of the roster, the newcomers who could make a big impact this season, and more.

What strikes you most about your current squad?

It’s a really good mix of young players that we’ve drafted over the last few years. And then we’ve added the veteran experience. … We’ve got 10 Pro Bowlers coming back from last year (Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, Zack Martin, Tyler Smith, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, DaRon Bland, Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger) and then when we add the young guys in, I think the talent is there. And then signing those guys to the veteran practice squad is another way to add talent to your roster, and you get excited about that. (We) build a roster a little differently than going out and spending money.

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Was the first-round trade to get two immediate starters on the offensive line – Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe – exactly the plan, or did you just get lucky?

We wanted to create more competition. You don’t know until they step on the field. There was the Tyron (Smith) deal (leaving him as a free agent). We signed Chuma Edoga. We looked at tackles and when we looked at the positions, we just felt it was right to go down and get an opportunity to get another pick because it’s not about one player. Getting these young guys in the deal was part of the plan.

What impressed you most about Guyton?

His athletic ability and his toughness. (Sometimes) when a young guy comes into the league and something happens and you’re told you have to start, you see his nervousness. But he doesn’t. He’s going to attack. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, he’s going to attack at 100 miles an hour. He’s got the feet and the skills you look for in a tackle to do that. But that’s a determined kid. And him next to (left back) Tyler Smith, that’s a nasty left side.

With Sam Williams out for the rest of the season, even more will be asked of rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland. What did you like most about your second-round pick?

A real professional as a young player. First of all, he’s violent. He’s physically strong and plays really, really fast. He’s got really good football instincts. And he’s humble, that’s why he’s around the experienced players and some of the players we’ve added. You see him soaking that up and then being able to apply it. That’s something unique for a young player at a high level. And like with Guyton, when Sam’s out, you have to play more, he didn’t even bat an eyelid.

And one last point about the newcomers: Cornerback Caelen Carson is also taking on a larger role due to DaRon Bland’s foot injury. What did you notice about Carson?

Just his competitiveness. He says like two words and then he goes out and practices and it’s nothing. Another one of those guys that’s not afraid of anything. He wants to compete against the best. He’s going to compete against (Brandin) Cooks and CeeDee and he’s extremely physical. He’s got a lot more potential because the way he played in college and the way he has to play now fits his skill set even better.

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What are realistic expectations for second-year DT Mazi Smith?

He’s supposed to come in and be a key contributor on defense. It’s not going to be a lot of sacks. It could be that he’s taking a lot of double coverage, making the plays he needs to make and contributing to this football team. I think the expectations for a first-rounder, with a little bit of italics around it, is public perception. At the end of the day, with us taking him and the way our board works, he was a player that fit us at that time and for that value. He’s got to improve his game and he knows that. With some of the guys around him, you just see the maturation of the kid. You think about guys coming in their freshman year. Remember the first time you wrote an article? It wasn’t as good as the one you wrote your sophomore year. That’s how we approach it.

You haven’t drafted anyone for the running back position in the last two years. To what extent did your opinion of Rico Dowdle play a role in these decisions?

That was a big part of it. His development, the way he came in. From his rookie year to last year and all of those things, his determination and the success he had at times last year, it made us feel really good. But then knowing that you have (Ezekiel Elliott). Zeke is still a premier player in the league. When you talk about short yardage runs, goal line runs and some of the things we’ve struggled with, he gives you some of those answers. Add to that his intelligence, helping the offense and things like that. You get a veteran player.

Deuce (Vaughn) brings his element. We added Dalvin Cook into the mix to see how it all works because he’s a high-level player. (He) wasn’t particularly successful last year, but you look at the scheme he was in and the situation and see if that fits what we’re doing. There are some things we observed and looked at and then there’s a great knowledge of the person and the player, so we felt like that was the right thing to do. You build a room. The NFL isn’t a one-back league anymore.

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What is the best thing about your job?

Putting the team together and working with the coaches and the front office staff. … Believing in the process. That’s the best part of the job: getting ready to go out there and play on Sunday and believing in all the guys that are making this happen. The college scouts that aren’t seeing their families and doing all that and putting in all the work. The pro scouts that are evaluating all that. And then our kind of synergy between the coaches and the front office that makes everything work the way it needs to.

What do you like least about work?

Lack of sleep. It’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and now they’re making it 365 days a year. I think always wanting to get better, that’s the hard part. When there’s a problem, a player is injured or whatever, and you have to fill that role and you’re looking for the better player, well, damn it if there isn’t one out there, that’s the hard part. You always want to have answers.

How long can you imagine doing what you are doing now?

As long as I can. That’s all I can do. That’s what I can do. Put teams together, be a part of it. Football is my life and I want to win a Super Bowl. And I want to win a Super Bowl here.

What will you be doing in five years?

(Laughs) Hopefully alive and breathing and winning some football games. Being part of the organization and winning some football games.

(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)