The Dallas Cowboys locked up one of their top players on Wednesday afternoon, agreeing to an eight-year extension with left tackle Tyron Smith worth up to $98 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The #Cowboys and LT Tyron Smith have reached an agreement in principle on an 8-year, $98M deal, source says. Wow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 30, 2014
Smith, 23, is one of the top young left tackles in the NFL and this deal ensures that the 2013 Pro Bowler will be with the Cowboys through his prime. The Cowboys picked up his fifth-year player option in April and have the 6-5, 390-pound offensive lineman under contract for the next 10 years.
#Cowboys have star LT Tyron Smith under contract for the next 10 years for a total of $109M, per source. Second deal for 2011 1st rounders
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 30, 2014
Dallas spent the No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft on the talented young tackle out of USC and he has started 47 out of a possible 48 games in his three-year career.
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He began his career as a right tackle so he could get his feet wet as a 21-year-old rookie before making the transition to the blind side in Year 2 and the move has been an absolute success. Smith allowed only one sack and three quarterback hits last season.
The Cowboys have made the offensive line a priority in the last three drafts with Smith being the first of three offensive linemen that would be taken in the first round with center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin following in the last two years.