The Dallas Cowboys are 5-3 at the midseason mark following a close, hard-fought loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9. As a result, we're reviewing their season so far. You can find more articles in this series at the bottom of the post. In this one, we evaluate each rookie and their play so far. 

Disclaimer: These are NOT draft grades for the Cowboys' rookies. Instead, they're grades on how they've played so far. 

DL Mazi Smith

Snap count: 127 (25.6%)
Grade: C

Grades on Smith's play will vary wildly depending on what expectations each evaluator had for the Cowboys' first-round draft pick. Like many nose tackles, Smith's development will take significant time to properly unfold. 

However, it's always a bit disappointing to see such a low snap count for any player. Again, this shouldn't be seen as the ultimate indictment on Smith. The Cowboys have Johnathan Hankins and play a lot of hybrid fronts that don't even include a true NT. Mazi has shown little flashes of the athletic freak he can be down the road. It will just take time to get there. 

TE Luke Schoonmaker

Snap count: 179 (32.6%)
Grade: D

Schoonmaker has had some rough moments as a rookie and very few flashes. He has three catches in eight targets. He has at least one touchdown drop in what was an absolute dime from Dak Prescott. On the latest loss to the Eagles, his route running cost the Cowboys a go-ahead touchdown. 

I don't think @BaldyNFL was trying to argue against Dak on his tweet.

He was just pointing out how the rub route is supposed to be run. This wasn't a misread from Prescott, I've seen some on Twitter use his clip as if it was. #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/9Ap3xIwuDJ

— Mauricio Rodríguez (@MauNFL) November 7, 2023

He's been the biggest disappointment of the rookie class, considering he was a second-round draft pick. 

RB Deuce Vaughn

Snap count: 48 (8.7%)
Grade: D-

I hate to give Vaughn such a low grade considering he was a sixth-round draft pick but there's no question he's been somewhat of a disappointment for the Cowboys. Look at it this way: He not only made the 53-man roster but was part of the gameday roster early in the year.

The last time Vaughn avoided being a healthy scratch was in Week 5 when the Cowboys lost to the San Francisco 49ers. That feels like a lifetime ago! 

Particularly, Vaughn failed to carve out a role on special teams and he struggled in pass pro. Not even because of his size but because he was completely lost out there, missing reads and being responsible for more than one pressure.

3rd-and-8: Deuce Vaughn's missed block cost the Dallas Cowboys a big-time play with CeeDee Lamb open over the middle of the field.

Despite the result of the play, I love the Cowboys are getting into these Max Protect looks to manufacture big plays. pic.twitter.com/zvgJc5SM6D

— Mauricio Rodríguez (@MauNFL) October 4, 2023

FB Hunter Luepke (UDFA)

Snap count: 69 (12.6%)
Grade: A-

Luepke has turned himself into one of John Fassel's favorites. Only Juanyeh Thomas has a higher snap count than him on special teams (63.6% snap count for Hunter!). 

On top of that, he's played more on offense than even Vaughn has with a specific gameday role as an H-back. All that's left is for him to contribute as a weapon. But for now, he's the most impactful rookie of this year, even if it's on special teams. A great story for un an underdog who went undrafted after a successful career in the FCS. 

OG T.J. Bass (UDFA)

Snap count: 168 (30.4%)
Grade: B-

Bass hasn't played a whole lot and there's not a lot I can say about him considering he's a UDFA. He did record negative PFF grades and allowed 5 pressures in 80 pass blocking snaps. 

Haven't played enough… 

• LB DeMarvion Overshown (Season-ending IR)
• DE Viliami Fehoko Jr. (0 games)
• OL Asim Richards (32 snaps)
• CB Eric Scott Jr. (0 games)
• WR Jalen Brooks (20 snaps)

What's been surprising from the Cowboys' 2023 draft class is how little it has contributed. That has to do with injuries and the team's depth at key positions but Fehoko, Scott, and Brooks have been healthy scratches for most of the season as a group. Vaughn has recently joined them in that trend.

More on the midseason mark for the Cowboys:

• The 3 Cowboys midseason MVPs (including an unlikely hero)
• The biggest surprise at the midseason mark
• The biggest disappointment amid 5-3 start
• The Cowboys' best and worst free agent signing so far
• Cowboys Playoff Picture: Can they steal the NFC East?

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