Re-signing free agent OT Tyron Smith isn’t a gamble if the Cowboys do it right

There’s a debate waging in Cowboys Nation as to whether Dallas should re-sign their soon-to-be free agent Tyron Smith this offseason, or not. The Cowboys’ 34-year-old left tackle is set to hit the market after his 2024 contract season voids, putting his future in Dallas fully in doubt.

One side of the debate argues Smith’s best days are behind him and his sorted injury history make him an unreliable piece to the offense’s most important puzzle. Given Smith hasn’t played more than 13 games in a season since the Obama administration, it’s a fair argument to make.

The other side argues he’s still too damn good to put out to pasture. Smith is coming off his best season in years and in the 13 games he played in 2023, he graded out by PFF as No. 4 in a field of 83 OTs. Reliable or not, most teams would kill for that level of play at LT.

Yet, the debate wages.

It wasn’t long ago the bulk of Cowboys Nation had had enough of their former All Pro LT. After years of diligent service and elite play, Smith’s body began to break down. The former 2011 first rounder had become a mainstay on the injury report, and over the course of three seasons he only played a total of 17 games for Dallas.

His reliability issues soured the fanbase and prompted a renegotiation between player and front office last winter. As fortune would have it, 2023 was a resurgence year for the 34-year-old lineman. Smith played in 13 games and generally operated on an island manned up against the very best pass rushers in the league.

final pass block metrics for offensive tackles pic.twitter.com/zb7wo1lHSr

— Timo Riske (@PFF_Moo) January 9, 2024

Play significantly dropped off when Smith was absent from the lineup, speaking to his level of play and the lack of depth employed behind him on the roster. The Cowboys were a better team with Smith in the lineup; something even his most adamant distractors had to admit.