As gridlock continues on the Cowboys’ top tier of extension candidates, other key starters wait as well. Jaylon Smith profiles as a unique member of the latter group, with his 2016 rookie season delaying his service-time clock. The fourth-year linebacker is set for restricted free agency at season’s end.
Smith does not want to take the free agent route. The emerging dynamo expressed a desire to stay with the Cowboys throughout his career.
“I want to be a Cowboy. I want to be a Cowboy for the rest of my life,” Smith said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota (on Twitter). “Understanding what they’ve done for me, taking a chance, taking a risk. Now they’re getting the return on their investment. It’s a beautiful thing to be a Dallas Cowboy.”
The former Notre Dame star has successfully recovered from the severe knee injuries that threatened his career coming into the 2016 draft. He graded as the league’s No. 6 off-ball linebacker last season, per Pro Football Focus, making a career-high 121 tackles and registering four sacks. Smith and 2018 first-rounder Leighton Vander Esch (No. 4 on PFF’s 2018 linebacker performance list) comprise one of the NFL’s best three-down linebacking duos.
By virtue of his 2016 spent on the Cowboys’ NFI list, Smith is due to be a 2020 RFA. The Cowboys would be expected to place a second-round tender on him. But he is extension-eligible now, joining Dallas’ big three (Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper), Byron Jones and La’el Collins in that regard. Smith, 24, expects a Cowboys extension at some point.
Can’t sign them all…
They may claim to have too many ‘stars’ on their roster, but I clearly remember the Rams D saying they knew what play was being called. Is that coaching, or talent, combination of the two? I don’t know, however they couldn’t move an inch on that average D.
A handoff to zeke or a bad throw by Dak.
I know their plays too.
Priority re-signings- Smith, Zeke, Cooper, Dak, Jones. In that order.
Cooper, Smith, Dak, Zeke, Jones
Dak (it all starts with a quality QB, and he’s quality)
Cooper
Smith
Zeke (RB’s are the most replaceable position in NFL)
Jones
Jaylon Smith better stay with Cowboys.
Good for Jaylon! He’s no damned prima donna! He was treated right by the Cowboys and he’s doing the right thing to stay on with them…
If they meet his “price.”
Favorite player in the NFL, he is a superstar person too. Love his game and his attitude. Very level headed guy.
“It’s a beautiful thing to be a Dallas Cowboy.”
Could a drug test reveal how long Jaylon has been stealing Jerry’s medication?