Latest NFL news essentially locks in millions of dollars for Dallas Cowboys' Tyler Smith and it's well deserved
Tyler Smith is now a two-time Pro Bowler but this time, the nod is unbelievably sweeter than the first one. That's because this one has a strong financial implication for the Dallas Cowboys' starting left guard. Last year, Smith was selected to the Pro Bowl as an alternate, which didn't unlock financial incentives for his potential […]
Tyler Smith is now a two-time Pro Bowler but this time, the nod is unbelievably sweeter than the first one. That's because this one has a strong financial implication for the Dallas Cowboys' starting left guard.
Last year, Smith was selected to the Pro Bowl as an alternate, which didn't unlock financial incentives for his potential (and likely) 2026 fifth-year option.
This time, because he was selected on the original ballot, Smith's fifth-year option just got a significant increase in price. If the Cowboys exercise Smith's fifth-year option the upcoming offseason, it'll cost $22,741,000 for the 2026 season. It's a $4.3 million increase.
The increase comes as a result of the CBA, which notes that "players who are named to exactly one Pro Bowl on the original ballot (not as an alternate) will be eligible for a fifth year base salary equal to the transition tender at their position," via Over the Cap.
It's worth noting the fifth-year option is fully guaranteed.
Smith is set to benefit from the financial boost even if the Cowboys extended him to a long-term deal instead of exercising the option as it gives his agent leverage when negotiating a long-term deal.
Smith has been great on the field for the Cowboys, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2023. What's even better though is that he's become one of the top leaders in the locker room and his leadership role is only set to increase assuming Zack Martin retires in 2025.
"I don't know that I've ever seen a rookie lineman play both guard and tackle, we put a lot on his plate and now he's settled in at the guard position, this is really the beginning of a great career," Mike McCarthy told reporters about Smith on Thursday.
The Cowboys front office has compared him to Larry Allen in the past and is likely to keep Smith on its long-term plans. Expect him to be paid a huge deal sometime in the future but in the meantime, Smith is raising the price tag with strong play.
