Tyron Smith has been one of the most dominant players in the Cowboys’ rich history.
He will close the chapter on what should be a Hall of Fame career somewhere else. Smith plans to sign with the New York Jets, a person familiar with his decision told The Dallas Morning News on Friday. Smith’s deal with the Jets is for one season, with incentives that could reach $20 million.
After 13 seasons in Dallas, former Cowboys LT Tyron Smith plans to sign with the Jets, a person familiar with his decision said.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 16, 2024
The 33-year-old left tackle turned back the clock last season, starting 13 games and displaying the overpowering style that led him to be named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. But the decision about going forward with Smith has never been solely about his level of performance when he’s on the field.
It’s about how often he makes it to the field.
Mike McCarthy has been the Cowboys head coach for 67 regular season games over the last four years. Smith has been available for 30 of those games. He started a total of just 17 games in McCarthy’s first three seasons with the team.
Back, neck, knee, ankle, hamstring and elbow injuries have conspired to beat Smith in a way opponents haven’t. The last full season where injuries didn’t rob the Cowboys offensive tackle of any starts came in 2015.
The schedule the training staff devised — he worked off to the side during the Wednesday and Thursday practices and only took part in the walk-through sessions the remainder of the week — appeared to invigorate his career at this late stage. But the question remains:
Is this past season repeatable if Smith continues to follow this routine going forward or was it an aberration, a final reminder of how dominant he can be when healthy?
Smith has been a Pro Bowl fixture in the Cowboys offensive line for the better part of a decade. The ninth player taken in the ‘11 draft — and the first player taken under tenure of head coach Jason Garrett — started at right tackle as a rookie before moving to the left tackle the next season.
The first 13 years of Smith’s career have been spent in Dallas. In addition to his All-Decade recognition, he was named to eight Pro Bowls and made either the first or second All-Pro team five times.
He has played in 161 games in his career.
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