The contract details for tackle Tyron Smith‘s new deal with the New York Jets are now public, and they’re raising a lot of eyebrows among Cowboys fans. While Smith’s contract could end up paying out roughly $20 million for the 2024 season, his base salary is just $6.5 million. Many would consider that a steal for a multi-time All-Pro tackle.
Most of Smith’s contract money can be earned by playing a lot this season. Beginning at 38% of the team’s offensive snaps, the former first-rounder can earn $750,000 and up in playing-time incentives. By reaching 68% of snaps, Smith would earn an additional $5.75 million. Playing 98% of the Jets’ offensive snaps in 2024 would result in a bonus of $6.25 million. All in all, it’s a maximum deal of $20 million with extra bonuses for playoff wins and a Pro Bowl incentive.
Given Smith’s injury history, the Jets know the left tackle is unlikely to play every snap in every game. The Cowboys coaches kept Smith on a “Hall-of-Fame” practice schedule for the majority of the 2023 season. Though he played very little during the week, it resulted in great play from the vet on game days. Minor injuries caused him to miss time still, however, and he lost out on some of his playing time incentives. He started 13 out of the 13 games he played this year.
Dallas could have inked Smith to a similar deal to keep their former first-round pick locked in, potentially even through his retirement, but the team hasn’t shown a willingness to make even a $6.5 million deal this offseason. Even new linebacker addition Eric Kendricks signed a deal for just one year at $3.5 million.
With Tyron Smith gone, the team will need a new left tackle. Tyler Smith, who played the position in 2022, could be an option, but they could also opt to go for a high-round draft pick and hope they can contribute in Year 1.
Cowboys raise eyebrows with their ‘all in’ strategy
The frustration with the team’s process this offseason is palpable on social media, especially after Jerry Jones used the phrase “all in” to describe their approach to the 2024 season. On Wednesday, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones explained what “all in” really means to the team amid free agency.
“We don’t define ‘all in’ by what you spend in free agency … It’s keeping your core and some of the great players in this league – like Dak Prescott, like Micah Parsons, like CeeDee Lamb, like (Trevon) Diggs,” Jones said. “That’s what we define as all in, is trying to keep those guys.”
Despite working towards extensions for multiple stars, including CeeDee Lamb, none of those deals have come to fruition just yet. Meanwhile, on top of Smith’s departure, four former Cowboys are now with one of the team’s NFC East rivals, the Washington Commanders.
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