Dallas Cowboys have options for new left tackle in free agency
For the first time in 12 years, the Dallas Cowboys may need to sign a new starting left tackle. Veteran Tyron Smith is due to hit the free agent market on March 13 once 2023 contracts expire unless they extend him. Given his age and recent injury history, there’s reason to believe that the Cowboys could look elsewhere for Dak Prescott‘s blindside protection.
Jerry Jones and the front office could choose to refresh the position with a high-round draft selection. It worked out well with Tyler Smith who filled in for Tyron Smith in 2022 and then took over at left tackle in 2023. However, there are also several promising options in the upcoming free agency ranks.
Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com this week proposed three younger tackles the team could go after once 2023 contracts run out next month. Legal tampering for these players can begin on March 11.
Mekhi Becton, the New York Jets’ 11th-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, is just 24 years old and about to become a free agent for the first time in his career. New York opted not to exercise his fifth-year option after he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of most games in 2021 and 2022.
Another No. 11-overall pick coming up on free agency is Jonah Williams of the Cincinnati Bengals. The former Alabama standout went from left tackle to right tackle for Cincinnati, so he could be sold on finding a home back at left tackle on the Cowboys starting offensive line. The Bengals paid $12.6 million for his fifth-year option this season.
New England Patriots starter Michael Onwenu was a sixth-round draft pick but he’s made 56 starts in four seasons in the league. At just 26 years old, he makes for an intriguing option.
Dallas has several swing tackle options on the roster, including former starter La’el Collins who they signed before playoffs. In the group with Chuma Edoga, Matt Waletzko, Asim Richards and T.J. Bass, however, it’s unclear if the team’s next starting left tackle is among them.
Mike McCarthy opens up on Tyron Smith’s contract status
The Cowboys have more than a dozen players to consider new contracts for after the end of the 2023 season but none with more veteran status than left tackle Tyron Smith. The Cowboys coaches kept Smith on a “Hall-of-Fame” practice schedule for the majority of the season, meaning he played very little during the week, and that worked well, even if he did miss four games throughout the year.
The former first-round draft pick was reliable when he started as evidenced by his first All-Pro selection since the 2016 season. His second-team selection gives him five All-Pro honors in his 13-year career. Head coach Mike McCarthy called Smith’s play this season his best since he took over the team in 2020.
“Biggest thing for Tyron, we talked about the path of this season, this is clearly his best season that I’ve experienced with him,” McCarthy said at the end of the year. “He felt really good about that. Just the fact that he’s not going into the offseason with surgeries is a big plus. We’ll continue talking about it moving forward.”
Smith last signed a major deal for eight years, $97.6 million in 2014. He’s helped Dallas clear cap space every year, including last offseason when he signed a contract restructure for one-year, $6 million.