Cowboys Give Jaylon Smith A Surprise Outing

The Dallas Cowboys have released linebacker Jaylon Smith, ESPN’s Adam Schefter Reports.

Smith, 26, is in his fifth season in the NFL. The Cowboys ‘2016 second-round pick at Notre Dame, Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2019. He started every Cowboys game from 2018 to 2020, but came off the bench in two of Dallas’ four games this season.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the Cowboys to qualify four weeks after the start of the season. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the release won’t be official until Wednesday, leaving open an unlikely possibility that Smith will be traded waiting for.

Smith owes $ 7.2 million this season, all of which was guaranteed when he made the team’s initial roster of 53. Garafolo reports that $ 9.2 million in injury guarantees for next season played a role in the Cowboys’ decision to part ways with Smith.

The Cowboys have spent two of their last three picks in the first-round draft on linebackers, selecting Leighton Vander Esch in 2018 and rookie Micah Parsons in the April draft. They didn’t have a first-round pick in 2019. Parsons went on to become Rookie Candidate of the Year while helping anchor a resurgent Dallas defense this season.