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Packers and Cowboys Agree to Trade Former First-Round Defensive Tackle, Pending Physical, per source

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Green Bay, WI – September 5, 2025

The Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys have reached a trade agreement that will send a former first-round pick to Green Bay. The deal, however, remains pending medical evaluations and a routine physical.

The move caps off weeks of speculation surrounding Dallas’ willingness to part ways with one of their younger defensive linemen. After a disappointing start to his career and the Cowboys’ recent decision to trade superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay, front-office executives began to quietly shop another piece of their defensive front.

That piece is Mazi Smith, the 2023 first-rounder drafted 26th overall out of Michigan. Once touted as a cornerstone of Dallas’ defensive future, he never fully blossomed in the Lone Star State. Two seasons in, he has flashed potential but hasn’t cemented himself as a long-term starter.

“We think a fresh start in Green Bay is what he needs,” a Packers front office source said. “Our defense thrives on depth and versatility, and he’ll have a chance to grow behind the best in the game.”

Packers and Cowboys Agree to Trade Former First-Round Defensive Tackle Mazi Smith 

— Adam Schetfer 

Smith’s rookie year saw him play all 17 games, starting three, with 13 tackles and a sack. His second season under then-DC Mike Zimmer was more productive, with 41 tackles, four for loss, three QB hits, and another sack. Still, with yet another coordinator shift to Matt Eberflus, his role became uncertain.

The Packers see opportunity where Dallas saw stagnation. Anchored by Rashan Gary and Micah Parsons, Green Bay has needed more interior depth. Smith’s size—6-foot-3, 337 pounds—combined with his athletic profile makes him an intriguing fit in Jeff Hafley’s rotating fronts.

Financially, the deal is low risk for Green Bay. Smith carries a $3.62 million cap hit in 2025 and remains under team control through his fifth-year option. Sources say the Cowboys will receive a 2026 fifth-round pick in exchange, a modest return for a former first-rounder.

For now, all eyes turn to the medical and physical. If he clears, Smith is expected to join his new team in Green Bay, where final paperwork will make the trade official. Once complete, the Packers will add yet another powerful body to their quest for sustained dominance in the NFC.

Stay tuned to ESPN!

 

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Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side