Dallas Cowboys place second-round tender on Terence Steele
One of the Dallas Cowboys‘ two restricted free agents, offensive tackle Terence Steele has a new deal this week. The Cowboys have placed a second round tender on Steele, according to Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan. The former Texas Tech star suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-December but he’ll be ready to play the season in 2023.
Steele, who went undrafted out of Texas Tech, joined the Cowboys in 2020. He signed a three-year deal for $2.3 million. Dallas hopes to work on a long-term deal with Steele, per the report.
Just as the Cowboys were about to get left tackle Tyron Smith back this year, Steele suffered a torn ACL versus the Houston Texans. The injury put him on the sidelines for the rest of the year and playoffs.
Smith was able to slide over to right tackle, despite not playing the position for a decade, while rookie Tyler Smith retained starting duties at left tackle.
The 25-year-old Texas native began starting as a rookie in place of an injured La’el Collins. He started 14 of 16 games in 2020 after starting for four years for the Red Raiders. He was on and off as a starter in 2021 before cementing his role in 2022.
More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2023 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially run out, making those players free agents.
Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.
There are 722 players slated to become free agents in 2023, including 20 unrestricted free agents for Dallas.