For the first time in 12 years, dallas cowboys They may need to sign a new starting left tackle. Veteran Tyron Smith's contract expires in 2023 unless extended, and he is scheduled to hit the free agent market on March 13th.Given his age and recent injury history, there's reason to believe the Cowboys may look elsewhere duck prescottblind side protection.
Jerry Jones and the front office may choose to update the position with a top draft pick.it worked tyler smith He replaced Tyron Smith in 2022 and took over at left tackle in 2023. But there are also some promising options in the upcoming free agent ranks.
Patrick Walker of DallasCowboys.com this week suggested three young tackles the team could acquire after their 2023 contracts expire next month. Legal tampering for these players could start from March 11th.
Mekhi BectonThe 11th overall pick of the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft is only 24 years old and about to become a free agent for the first time in his career. New York chose not to exercise his fifth-year option after missing most games in 2021 and 2022 due to his knee injury.
Another 11th overall pick is expected to arrive in free agency. Jonah Williams Cincinnati Bengals player. The former Alabama standout moved from left tackle to right tackle in Cincinnati, so he could find a home back at left tackle on the Cowboys' starting offensive line. The Bengals paid $12.6 million on his fifth-year option this season.
New England Patriots starter michael onwenu He was a sixth-round draft pick, but he started 56 games in four seasons in the league. At just 26 years old, he has some interesting options.
Dallas has several swing tackle options on the roster, including a former starter. Lael Collins Players they signed before the playoffs.in a group with Chuuma Edga, Matt Waletzko, Asim Richards and TJ baseHowever, it's unclear whether the team's next starting left tackle will be among them.
Mike McCarthy talks about Tyron Smith's contract situation
The Cowboys have more than a dozen players who will be considered for new contracts after the 2023 season, but none have as much veteran status as left tackle. Tyrone Smith. Cowboys coaches kept Smith on a “Hall of Fame” practice schedule for most of the season. I mean, he played very little that week, but it worked, even if he missed four games all year.
The former first-round draft pick was reliable when he started, as evidenced by his first All-Pro selection since the 2016 season. He earned five All-Pro awards in his 13-year career by being selected to the second team. Head coach Mike McCarthy called Smith's play this season his best since taking over the team in 2020.
“The biggest thing for Tyrone is we've talked about where this season is going. This is obviously the best season I've had with him,” McCarthy said at the end of the year. “He felt really good about it. Just the fact that he won't have surgery in the offseason is a big plus. We'll continue to have conversations going forward.”
Smith last signed an eight-year, $97.6 million major league contract in 2014. He has helped Dallas clear cap space every year, including signing a one-year, $6 million contract restructuring last offseason.
