Cowboys fail to turn around Tyron Smith storyline in opening week of NFL free agency

The Dallas Cowboys are losing Tyron Smith to the New York Jets in free agency.

As expected following reports earlier in the month about Smith being unlikely to return to Dallas in 2024, the future Hall of Famer left tackle is going to a higher bidder after testing the market.

Smith, fresh off of a second-team All-Pro season last year, was considered the top tackle in free agency this year. After a quiet start to the market for offensive linemen, it seemed like the Cowboys had a shot at turning the tables and keeping Smith. Now we know that was never close to being the case.

He's now headed to protect the boogeyman of his former team: Aaron Rodgers. 

“I feel like it’s going to be amazing," Smith told CBS' Josina Anderson. "Of course me being with Dallas, he’s kicked our butts twice in the playoffs—so I know what he's capable of. Honestly, I’m just excited about the opportunity.”

He'll do so while getting paid, too. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Smith is signing for a one-year deal worth up to $20 million including incentives, which are likely to be playing-time based for the most part.

Last season, Smith made $11M with Dallas having cleared the 70% snap count threshold in incentives. He has a chance to almost double his pay next year while playing for a contender and one of the best quarterbacks of this generation. 

The Cowboys didn't keep Smith because they're cheap

Even though $20 million sounds like a lot, the Cowboys could've made a similar deal work giving Tyron a manageable Year One cap hit. However, Stephen Jones and front office were likely hoping to sign him for the same kind of deal when the sides met at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. 

In the same year the Cowboys are claiming to go "all in," they're actively choosing to head into the 2024 season without a clear picture of what the offensive line looks like on Dak Prescott's final year of his deal. They're turning their backs on a franchise legend who consistently was a class act with the organization in a year where he more than earned a payday. More significantly, they're passing on the opportunity to retain one of the best lineman's in the league who more than produced in 2023:

• 4th in run block win rate per ESPN
• 3rd best pass blocking efficiency per PFF
• 4th highest rate for being "left on an island" (no OL help) per Arjun Menon
• 4th highest overall grade per PFF among tackles

Jerry Jones even clarified that going all in was keeping their own players. Perhaps that meant keeping guys seeking minimum-type contracts like Trent Sieg, Jourdan Lewis, and C.J. Goodwin and not the ones seeking larger deals.