The Cowboys and Jaylon Smith
The Dallas Cowboys decided it was time to release linebacker Jaylon Smith after five seasons with the team. This move caught a lot of people off guard as the club was doing well this season at 3-1. The Cowboys were attempting to trade him but were unable to find a partner to make it happen. This was mainly due to the injury guarantees that were built into his contract. No team was willing to take that onto their cap for someone of his abilities at the time.
Dallas’ linebacker position group was already filled with talent. They drafted versatile defensive player Micah Parsons who can play both linebacker and defensive end this offseason. He has played well so far this season in any role the team asked him to do. The club also signed Keanu Neal this April hoping he could transition from safety to linebacker. Leighton Vander Esch has returned close to how he performed as a rookie. So well he got the start over Smith this last game when Neal was out with COVID-19. Smith was no longer a starter even in relief and was preventing younger players from developing their skills. This along with his high cap number is what led to his release.
Smith’s Time in Dallas
Smith was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. The talented linebacker fell that far because of a knee injury he sustained in a bowl game in his last year in college. He had his best year during the 2018 campaign when he had 121 TAK and 4 SCK. He was selected to his only Pro Bowl that year. That earned him a 5-year $64 million dollar contract extension in 2019 to remain in Dallas. Smith got this deal because the team viewed him as the long-term answer at the position. He was athletic enough to both stop the run and cover players in the passing game. Those skills slowly deteriorated over time to a point where he became a liability in both. He only had 18 TAK this season in a limited role this year.
Closing Thoughts
This article was published on the Belly Up Sports website and specifically its NFL page. Belly Up Sports also has a Twitter page where you can interact with the network. I also have written for this outlet before so see my most recent story if you would like. If you would like to talk to me directly, feel free to chat with me on my Twitter as well. Try to keep it clean and proper. If you are incapable of doing so, ignore that completely and battle it out with me. Just a few warnings for those who dare challenge me. I am highly competitive and hate to admit when I am wrong. So be prepared for a war of words.
