Tyron Smith's 'Best Season': Should Dallas Cowboys Re-Sign Hall-of-Fame Lineman?
FRISCO - Since the Dallas Cowboys were unceremoniously and prematurely eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday, the attention has rightfully been on the return of head coach Mike McCarthy. Now that he's confirmed to be returning for a lame-duck season without a new contract beyond next season, the team turns its attention to pending free agents. And there are many.
One of the biggest questions for the Cowboys will be surrounding the future of All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith.
Smith, 33, has missed 37 games over the past four seasons due to injury and could decide to call it a career. His ticket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is all but punched, and walking away from the game on his own terms is the dream of many players.
Or Smith - who is now out of contract - could decide to return for one final season with McCarthy to collect something he hasn't won over his 13-year career, a Lombardi Trophy.
That's something the team will have to decide would be mutually beneficial. Dallas has seemingly been preparing for Smith's departure since drafting Tyler Smith in 2022. But with Jerry Jones' history, he won't just quit on a player like Tyron.
When on the field, Smith still plays at a high level. The veteran earned Second Team All-Pro honors last season after allowing just 21 pressures and three sacks in 610 pass-blocking plays. And McCarthy knows his value when healthy.
Said McCarthy: "This is clearly his best season that I've experienced with him since 2020. So, he felt really good about that."
While he has dealt with injuries over the past four seasons, McCarthy sees value in Smith's health entering the offseason.
"Just the fact that he's not going into the offseason with any big postseason surgeries is a real plus," McCarthy said. "But we'll continue to talk moving forward."
Will Smith return for a 14th season with the Cowboys or will he ride off into the sunset awaiting his Hall of Fame induction? No one knows yet. Maybe not even Smith. But either way, he's earned the right to take his time in deciding.
