How Much Is Cowboys Legend Tyron Smith Worth? A $15M Contract Prediction
With veteran offensive tackle Tyron Smith hitting free agency for the first time in his 13-year career, it's likely the end of an era for the Dallas Cowboys.
The No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Smith has been one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL for over a decade now. The USC product is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, as well as a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. Injuries have taken their toll on Smith recently, but he'll still go down as a Cowboys legend.
Now, though, it seems all but certain that Smith will be wearing another uniform next season. Despite his injury concerns and him being in the latter stages of his career at 33, Smith can still play at a high level as he earned a second-team All-Pro selection last season.
This raises a tough question, how much is Smith truly worth in free agency? Former New York Jets general manager and current ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum attempted to answer that question, and projected Smith to receive a one-year deal worth up to $15 million with $5 million guaranteed.
"This is among the most fascinating free agent situations that we've seen in recent years," Tannenbaum writes. "Smith has been one of the best left tackles in the NFL over the past decade -- but he is 33 years old and has not played a full season since 2015. ... I'd be in on Smith if I could get him on a short-term deal with low guarantees. Consider that his 13 games in 2023 were his most since 2019. The durability concerns are real. But if it's a one-year deal with around $5 million guaranteed, it could be a steal."
Offensive tackle is one of the most important positions in football, and it's rare that one as accomplished as Smith hits free agency. As a result, it wouldn't be too surprising to see him get a big-money deal this offseason, even if it's only a short-term one.
Depending on the dollars, Dallas might earn criticism for not retaining Tyron. One thing's for sure, though: At whatever dollar figure, the Cowboys are going to miss seeing their franchise tackle line up for them.
