Faced with the prospect of franchise-tagging Dak Prescott for a second straight year, and doing so at a $37.7MM rate, the Cowboys are in a crucial stretch now that the window for applying tags is open. The team currently has less than $20MM in cap space.
While restructures will surely commence, the Cowboys do not intend to release Jaylon Smith to create additional cap space, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Shedding the linebacker’s contract would call for less than $1MM saved — in a non-post-June 1 cut scenario — against a $9MM dead-money hit. But if the Cowboys were to designate Smith as a post-June 1 release, they could save $7.2MM this year.
Dallas included Smith in its spree of 2019 extensions, re-upping the linebacker on a five-year, $63.75MM deal. Despite entering the NFL after a severe injury that caused him to miss his 2016 rookie season, Smith became a three-down linebacker with Dallas. Pro Football Focus graded the Notre Dame product as the Cowboys’ top off-ball ‘backer last season, slotting him 45th overall. That ranking provides a partial summary of one of the worst defenses in Cowboys history, and changes should be expected now that Dan Quinn is in charge. Smith and Quinn have already spoken since the former Falcons HC took the Cowboys DC job, per Hill.
Smith led the Cowboys with 154 tackles last season and totaled 142 in 2019, doing so as Leighton Vander Esch battled injuries in both seasons. The Cowboys have Vander Esch signed through 2021. While they can pick up Vander Esch’s fifth-year option by May to lock him down through 2022, the injuries Smith’s three-down linebacker mate has suffered cloud his future compared to where his stock resided after a standout rookie year. Drafted two years apart, Smith and Vander Esch are both 25.
The Cowboys, who have Smith signed all the way through the 2025 season, have until March 9 to tag Prescott. With no other quarterbacks expected to be tagged, Prescott’s tag could run more than $20MM higher than any other 2021 tag. Needless to say, the Cowboys are pushing to extend their quarterback before the tag window closes rather than have that $37.7MM number on their books going into free agency. The sides have been at this for two years now, but the upcoming tag deadline raises the stakes for the Cowboys to avoid the Washington-Kirk Cousins path.
why tf would they cut jaylon smith
‘Smith led the Cowboys with 154 tackles last season and totaled 142 in 2019″
I’d keep him on the roster as well.
Yep, only problem is majority of those tackles were made after the ball handler gained five or six yards. I can’t confirm my statement. I would not be surprised if I am correct. As a Cowboy fan I wouldn’t mind cutting Smith at all. He was terrible last year. I was not great the year prior.
True, he used his speed to catch up with the ballcarrier after he was 5+ yds downfield….still wouldn’t cut him though as better play by the defense overall can help straighten all that out.
Totally agree. A new defense will help him tremendously. Back to a 4-3 hopefully
Can confirm he was awful last year. Seems generally slow to react/read run plays, which is kind of important for a linebacker to be able to do.
Uh…no. This is the last guy they should cut.
What’s the cap hit on a trade ? One would think if they can get something, it’s better than nothing
Cap hit is 9.8 dead cap is 9.4.
After June 1 they would save a lot of money by trading Coop saving $20 million then extending Gallup.
Gallup has hands of stone. His receiving percentage is poor. Let him walk next year
I’m not sure you sign Prescott to a long term contract just yet. Some QBs become gun shy (and therefore less effective) after they suffer major on-field injuries. Take a year to find out if he’s returned to his 2019 form or if he’s struggling like Derek Carr after his fibula break.
4-3 defense is on the way out in this passing era it’s all about getting more safeties and LB on the field
Hey he is on the right team for an overpay and we gotta keep em with an owner like old pick your nose haven’t won diddly squat for 24:years.
How about get rid of Dak? He’s definitely not a 30 mil a year QB
No need to get rid of him. Just pay him the $32-35MM he’s worth.
The move would be to get rid of Zeke. Pollard wants it more.
Jaylon smith was one of the only bright spots on the defense this year. If you’re talking about cutting any of our big contracts dlaw has to be first..
Smith is the kind of over celebrating a tackle on a 15 year gain.