The Dallas Cowboys are working on a way to bring eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith back for his 13th season with the team. Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Dallas is looking to rework his contract.
Smith has the fourth-highest salary cap hit on the Cowboys roster as we creep closer to the 2023 season. a few weeks ago, I suggested releasing Smith as a potential option to relieve some of that space, but it sounds like the team has other plans.
Smith is due $13.6 million in the final year of his deal and will be an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2024 season.
After sleeping on it, I like the move. Smith was solid to end the 2022 season, and he missed the first 13 games due to a hamstring tear but ended the season on a strong note.
He moved to left tackle when he returned because of the great play of then-rookie Tyler Smith.
If they can rework enough of his deal, this could be more beneficial for the team. I would enjoy keeping him around because you can always have a little depth. We saw what happened to this team toward the end of the year due to injuries.
We know Smith has struggled with his health in recent years, and the biggest concern is him only playing 17 games combined over the past three seasons. On the same token, it is hard to ignore the level he plays at when he is on the field, though.
Stephen Jones hinted at the possibility of this happening a few weeks ago. “I mean we always do reworks and things of that nature. That could come up with him,” Jones said. “We have the ability to do that and, but right now, we're comfortable where we are.”
That was said before they placed the franchise tag on Tony Pollard. Now with that in place, they are starting to dig into some of the contracts that are eating away at their salary cap.
It remains to be seen how they will make this deal work. Ezekiel, Elliott, and Smith want to stay with the team, and he is one of the players who has given his all to this team. If they are going to take the necessary steps to try and win it all next year, having a guy like Smith around helps.
Although there's good reason to believe the Cowboys and Smith will work out a team-friendly contract restructure. The offensive lineman has negotiated similar situations five times since 2015.
This isn't huge news for the Cowboys, but it is a way for them to bring the cap hit down a bit. This is the second move of many this team plans to make in the next few months.
We will keep you covered but look for movement on Zeke's contract soon. The team still has to figure out what to do with guys like Leighton Vander Esch and Donovan Wilson, and I would hate to see either of those defenders leave this team.
The clock is ticking; the Jones family knows they can create space, and it is just how they do it.
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