During the end of the Tony Romo era — and ushering in a young backfield of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott — the Dallas Cowboys had fortified a reputation of having a dominant offensive line. Zack Martin, drafted in the first round in 2014, was a force at right guard. Travis Frederick, a 2013 first-round selection, anchored the middle.
Advertisement
But the foundational piece to the unit was Tyron Smith, the offensive tackle drafted ninth in 2011. Smith began his NFL career on the right side — the position he played at Southern Cal — but quickly transitioned to becoming one of the NFL’s elite left tackles.
Thirteen years later, Smith’s ability remains top-notch, but durability concerns have cast a larger shadow. Last season, Smith played in 13 of 17 regular-season games and the Cowboys’ playoff game, but that came after two of the previous three years in which he played less than five games in a season.
The door hasn’t been shut by either side, but the Cowboys’ valuation of Smith is different from where Smith and his camp view things, especially after Smith found a practice routine that allowed him to be on the field and turned in an All-Pro season in 2023.
The Athletic’s Cowboys beat writers Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf discuss the implications of a potential divorce.
Are the Cowboys underestimating what Smith’s loss could mean?
Machota: I don’t think they’re underestimating it. I think they have a price they’re comfortable with for a 33-year-old player who hasn’t played a full season since 2015 and missed 33 games between 2020 and 2022. He played well last season, but that even came after they adjusted his weekly work schedule to greatly reduce the chances of his suffering any type of setback in practice. They should definitely try to re-sign him on another one-year deal, but if he can get considerably more on the open market, that’s probably best for both parties. Without Smith, left tackle is even more of a priority in next month’s NFL Draft.
Yousuf: I think they’re underestimating it a bit. Smith’s durability has been in question for a few years, so the Cowboys have always had to plan for his absence — and deal with it quite a bit. However, losing him could be a major step back for the team’s chances in 2024. There’s a reason that top-level left tackles don’t just pop up on the open market. The Cowboys could draft a young tackle, but it would be surprising if a rookie came in and gave the Cowboys what they’ve grown accustomed to at that position when they’ve enjoyed team success. There’s a domino effect that can carry with Smith’s departure, ranging from offensive-line shuffling to quarterback efficiency and, as a result, the future of a coaching staff.
Advertisement
How would you characterize Smith’s value to the Cowboys at this stage in his career?
Machota: I still think he has some gas left in the tank. You just can’t expect him to play a full season. You must have adequate tackle depth, which the Cowboys haven’t had in a while. When he’s healthy, he can still be one of the team’s strengths up front. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith was the NFL’s fourth-highest-graded offensive tackle last year. It was his second-highest-graded season of the last seven years. He’s likely going to have multiple teams bidding for his services. Maybe that leads to the Cowboys’ increasing what they are willing to pay. If not, it’s a good bet he’ll join a playoff-contending team on a one-year deal.
GO DEEPER
10 Cowboys combine takeaways: Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb contract talk, draft priorities
Yousuf: Smith still has tremendous value because he’s elite when he’s on the field. It’s been an extremely delicate situation. Early last season he was lost for a bit because of a late-week practice injury, but there’s no denying what he brings when he plays. To that extent, there’s an element of gambling on Smith’s health, and the Cowboys trusting their training staff to keep the veteran prepared during the week on a unique practice schedule. It’s understandable if the Cowboys deem the risk of one, or both, of those things having a price point.
Would letting Smith leave in free agency go against the notion of being ‘all in’ this season the Joneses have been touting?
Machota: It does from a sense of putting the best possible roster together for the 2024 season. But, as Jerry Jones has said, his definition of “all in” might be different from that of others. And the more you hear him describe it, the more it does sound like a different definition from spending big in free agency or making several big swings via trades, which is what most would assume is being “all in.” Drafting a left tackle in the first round could fit Jones’ definition of “all in” if the player is an immediate standout starter. It’s just difficult to believe a rookie will perform like Smith did last season, even while missing four games.
Yousuf: It’s hard to envision the Cowboys having a better solution at left tackle next season than a healthy Tyron Smith. The expectation of his missing games is a projection. Now, it’s an educated projection based on ample evidence over the last few years, but an all-in approach means taking big swings and betting on Smith’s health would be just that. See it this way: If Smith was an external free agent the Cowboys signed, even with his current baggage, most people viewing that would see it as a team going all in on a championship in 2024. Just because Smith is in-house doesn’t change that.
The Cowboys could still prove their unconditional commitment to 2024 despite letting Smith go based on how they use the cap space created by his departure. History says they won’t be big spenders in free agency, but things can change.
GO DEEPER
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on Dallas’ big 3 extensions, Tyler Smith’s position and more
If Smith leaves, how can the Cowboys go about best fortifying left tackle, as well as the left side of the offensive line overall?
Machota: The best scenario is drafting a left tackle at pick No. 24. Of course, all of the top tackles could be gone by that pick. Would Dallas be willing to trade up to guarantee they get one? Possibly. But it would probably have to involve giving up picks in next year’s draft. They don’t have a lot to work with this year. Drafting offensive linemen in the first round has worked out very well for the Cowboys. Maybe it does again. If Smith signs elsewhere and they don’t land an adequate left tackle, look for Tyler Smith to move out there from his left guard position. The Cowboys think his best spot is left guard, but they might not have a choice. In that scenario, they could draft an interior player or give T.J. Bass an opportunity to be the starting left guard. They’ll have options. The best for next season is Tyron Smith at left tackle. The best for the future is drafting a left tackle at 24 and pairing him with Tyler Smith on the left side for the next decade.
Advertisement
Yousuf: The obvious answer is moving Tyler Smith out to left tackle, but the Cowboys have clearly expressed that they love Tyler Smith at left guard because they believe he can be a generational player at his natural position. But left tackle is a far more valuable position, so if Tyron Smith leaves, the team and Tyler Smith might just have a tough pill to swallow, at least for next season.
Even though Tyron Smith’s decision will happen soon, the Cowboys don’t need to rush to decide on how to use Tyler Smith. The draft is top-heavy on quality tackles, but if the Cowboys feel they can grab one, they can plug him in on the left edge and keep Tyler Smith at left guard. If they feel the value is greater at guard, they can draft that player and move Tyler Smith outside. Either way, having Tyler Smith softens the blow that would otherwise be crushing.
(Top photos: Getty Images)