The Cowboys are moving on from a former Pro Bowler. The team is releasing linebacker Jaylon Smith, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
The Cowboys will still be responsible for paying the $7.2MM that Smith is owed in 2021, and the team is going to be eating an additional $9.8MM in cap with the move (per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter). That chunk of cap comes via Smith’s 2022 injury guarantees, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), and that significant chunk of money is a big reason why the Cowboys were unable to find a trade suitor. Smith will be eligible to sign with a new team starting tomorrow afternoon.
Despite being relegated to a backup role in 2021, Smith had been playing pretty well for the Cowboys through the first month of the season. The linebacker had started two of his four games this season, collecting 18 tackles. However, after appearing in 104 defensive snaps in Week 2 and Week 3, Smith was limited to only 28 defensive snaps in Week 4.
The 2016 second-round pick evolved into one of the Cowboys most dependable defensive players during his stint in Dallas. He started each of the Cowboys 48 games between 2018 and 2020, including a 2019 campaign where he collected 142 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles en route to a Pro Bowl appearance. However, the play from teammates Keanu Neal and Leighton Vander Esch (as well as a potential increased role for Jabril Cox) made the veteran expendable.
Other than a weak Week 4 performance, Smith has been more than serviceable this season, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ 11th-best linebacker through the first four weeks (via Twitter). A linebacker-needy team will surely be happy to add the new free agent to their squad.
don’t get it especially from the financial end
Jeruh being jeruh, he’s the biggest bozo in the nfl.
You sound stupid
I’m not a Cowboys fan but the biggest bozo in the nfl is easily Daniel Snyder or deshaun Watson and the drop off after those 2 scumbags is insane
They basically saw the guy just couldn’t get it done. He was good while they had him but now they have better so why keep him? YES, money wise Jerruh wasn’t smart giving him a big contract but like any other team they have to make business decisions. The Pack signed him because they are banged up..period. If he stays there I’d be shocked. The kid has a great heart and will but the body is letting him down. It happens.
Yeah, don’t get it. Could do way worse for depth than JS
Dude is only 26. Hope the Lions are able to snag him.
I couldn’t be more on board with this idea.
Ditto.
I really don’t get this… screw it, Steelers go grab him lol
He’s not good. Lost a step and always missing assignments.
Steelers aren’t going anywhere, he’d be better off on a team that has a chance
Gucci loafers
It’s clear he hasn’t done well in Dan Quinn’s defense, but why release him now? Bc they’re essentially paying him as if he was still on the team, but letting him play for someone else. I mean at that point you might as well just keep him as a back up in case of injury or something, especially with Vander esch not being the most durable dude. And then release him at the end of the season. Doesn’t really make sense. I’m figuring he asked to leave, and they just granted his wish. Either that or he did something bad and they just released him before news got out. Idk. It’s weird. Hope he finds a team where he’s a better fit and back to the level he was previously.
I agree. Not sure the thought process, unless as you mentioned there is some bad news coming shortly. There’s no reason not to keep him as an insurance policy if you’re going to eat his whole contract. I mean if you’re hell bent on getting rid of him, eat 90% and get some kind of compensation in a trade. He may have lost a step, but definitely still serviceable.
I believe a big reason they made the move besides his falling out of the rotation is that, if he gets injured, his salary for next season beces guaranteed.
becomes
I believe the article said they’re already responsible for the $9.8MM injury guarantee for next year….
ONLY if he gets hurt playing for them.
49ers could use help on defense
BROWNS BROWNS BROWNS BROWNS BROWNS
He could be playing the boys on the Sunday . . .
He was atrocious last year and his play recognition is lacking. Add in that he wasn’t a Dan Quinn guy, so it makes sense….except the financials.
No, none of it makes sense. You don’t release a veteran contributor 4 games into the season because he’s “not a Dan Quinn guy”. Then add that the Cowboys are still paying the $7mil this year and $9m next year, and yea none of it makes sense. There’s probably something we don’t know of that will come out. Wonder if Smith requested the release and Jerry honored it
Apparently ESPN is reporting that it sheds $9.2mil in salary for the Cowboys next season
ESPN said they’d lose 9.8 million next year. What is your source for next year?
Despite the decline in his play, I think he’ll be picked up pretty quick.
Giants
Makes a lot of sense for the Giants.
Especially with the injury to Blake Martinez.
Yea smart… our LBs always are healthy, never lacking in depth…
Washington could use him for sure
Detroit!!!!
On ESPN it says they have free’d up 9.2m for next season. The contract was guaranteed for injury only
…”and the team is going to be eating an additional $9.8MM in cap with the move (per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter). That chunk of cap comes via Smith’s 2022 injury guarantees, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), and that significant chunk of money is a big reason why the Cowboys were unable to find a trade suitor”. ….conflicting stories…. none of what you’re hearing makes any sense because NOBODY but JJ knows the truth and he doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to release anything about it !!
Rams
Panthers?
Raiders
Giants should pick sign him in a nano second!
Dallas couldn’t get a late round draft pick for him? That’s interesting. Definitely help the Giants
Stupid move. Now sign w SF
My Giants need linebacker help with Martinez on I/R.
Giants need LB’s …
The Eagles could use an upgrade at LB
True, but they haven’t put any value into the position in a loooong time. They’d rather run a unit out there on par with the CFLAAF or XFL than get a legitimate NFL LB.
It’s hilarious to see all these other fans clamoring to have this guy on their team. You won’t be clamoring anymore when you get your wish. I promise you.
“Oh, Lord in heaven, why?! Curse the day we asked for our team to sign Jaylon Smith! Rue the day! A pox upon he who invited this loathsome venom into our hallowed locker room!”
Yeah, I don’t think so.
Bears. Don’t forget he played for Notre Dame. Be like a homecoming.
The talent is there(ex pro bowler coming off 152 tackle season, 3 seasons of 100+ tackles) and he is 26 years old. So for all those laughing that other fans want him, sometimes a little change of scenery is a nice motivation.
Hope the Chargers go out and get him. I hope the Raiders don’t.
Why…?
He’ll sign in the NFC just to have a shot of keeping Dallas out of the Super Bowl as the NFC representative!
None of the $7.2MM they’re eating for the rest of this year or the $9.8MM they’re eating next year makes any sense…someone pissed the other side off snd it’ll come out eventually !!
I can see no reason why Cowboys did this..especially in a 17 game season and paying him anyway.. head scratcher
The $9M is an injury guarantee for next year if he gets injured this year. With limited snaps and not fitting into the Defensive scheme this year, they cut him to save the money incase he gets injured. They originally committed to him in March before because they needed depth. It was also before they implemented a new defensive scheme, before the NFL draft, and before signing other free agents that fit the scheme better.
Too bad. He’s a character guy and battled back from Injury early in his career. As always the organization knows SOMETHING we don’t in his release. A hint is that teams didn’t want him under his current contract in trade? Doubtful it all money? There had to be some longer term sight in today’s move. Dalkas draft fell to this very day as they have restocked at LB to preparation. From “Cowboy Nation” we thank you for your on the field and off the field conduct as a Cowboy.
Welcome to your Baltimore Ravens!!!
I dunno, the Ravens have a bit of a logjam figuring out their linebackers right now. There are a lot of players trading snaps there. Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems like there’s a surplus of players for the Ravens at the position.
Sign this guy Miami. We have no legitimate Line Backers.
Welcome to Denver replace the other side of Johnson and he’s better then Jewell is on the IR and he’s better then him anyways
I thought about Denver immediately, actually. If Paton is smart, he’ll get Smith’s agent on the phone yesterday to play inside. Denver’s been missing a blue chip prospect at inside linebacker for years now, and Smith was considered that type of player before. They should give this a chance, even without considering Newell’s injury-which makes it more dire.
Not to mention the expected offensive slump with Lock as a starter increasing the need for better defense.
As information comes out DAL offered options to his Injury clause which he has refused to do? DAL clearly had this in mind when they drafted two LBs in this last draft? So this discussion has been going on internally for more than a year. So timing is bigger picture than what week in the season it is.
If this was such a position of strength for the Cowboys why not trade him even if it was for a 6th or 7th round pick? Once again the Cowboys not making the smartest of personnel decisions.