The Dallas Cowboys and offensive lineman Tyler Smith have agreed on a four-year, $96 million extension that will keep the Fort Worth native with the team through 2030, multiple sources confirmed to the Star-Telegram.
Smith is set to receive a whopping $81.2 million in guaranteed money. The contract makes him the highest-paid interior lineman in NFL history.
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Smith and his agent — Joe Panos of Athletes First, who also represented former Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith — have been talking to the team since before the season on getting a new deal done for the 24-year-old ahead of next offseason. The sides failed to agree on a deal before the start of the year but continued to hammer away on details, leading to Saturday’s conclusion.
Drafted in the first round in 2022, Smith was a three-star recruit out of North Crowley High School before attending the Tulsa. His strong play for the Golden Hurricane landed him high grades heading into the draft process, although most draft experts thought Smith being selected No. 24 overall by the Cowboys was too high.
Three seasons later, Smith can now be a golden example of the Cowboys’ personnel department’s biggest achievements, as he has landed two Pro Bowl honors and a spot on the 2023 All-Pro second team. Over the past two seasons, Smith has allowed just three sacks and has emerged as the new face of the Cowboys’ offensive line following the retirements of Tyron Smith and Zack Martin.
“I know he’ll go down as one of the greats,” Tyron Smith said during his retirement press conference. “Tyler has come in and set the standard that he wants to be great. He has increasing potential every year. His work ethic and what he puts into this game and how dominant he is on the field, it just shows that he’s getting better. He has potential to be one of the greats.”
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Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said: “I think he’s the best guard in football. I don’t think I’m overselling him. I really do.”
In the two-plus weeks since the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, the team has now gotten three extensions done with pieces of their future. Cornerback DaRon Bland signed a four-year, $92 million deal, and fullback Hunter Luepke signed a two-year, $7.5 million extension before the season.
Now Smith gets his deal done at a record-setting price.
With two years left on his rookie contract, Smith is the first Cowboys first-round pick to get an extension before the conclusion of his fourth season since running back Ezekiel Elliott signed an extension in 2019.
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As those deals get done, the attention in the offseason can now pivot to wide receiver George Pickens, who could land a deal north of $30 million per year with a strong season. Kicker Brandon Aubrey is set to be a restricted free agent and could set a new mark for money to a specialist.
Other notable free agents include cornerback Kaiir Elam and defensive end Sam Williams