[ad_1]
Photo AP / Roger Steinman
Dallas Cowboys freed veteran linebacker Jaylon Smith, ESPN says Adam schefter.
Calvin watkins of Dallas Morning News quoted a source who said members of the Cowboys roster were “all shocked” by the move.
Schefter noted that Dallas is still at the mercy of Smith’s $ 7.2 million guaranteed salary this season, and the financial ramifications will linger until 2022.
Spotrac @spotrac
Wow. Jaylon Smith was 5 years old, with $ 50.75 million left on his contract.
His release leaves behind a $ 16.6 million dead ceiling for #Cowboys
2021: $ 9.8M ($ 7.2M in cash)
2022: $ 6.8 million https://t.co/rWEOHdkOS4
The 26-year-old made 17 tackles in the team’s first four games.
According to the NFL network Mike Garafolo, the team tried unsuccessfully to find a trade, so outright release was the only option on the table if the front office had committed to a separation.
The Cowboys signed Smith to a five-year, $ 64 million extension in August 2019. Although he made his first Pro Bowl the following season, his departure is a sign of how quickly his deal became a rock. angular for Dallas.
In June, Pro Football Focus’s Brad Spielberger argued it was the team’s worst payroll contract, in part because of the number of other options head coach Mike McCarthy had as linebacker. The team selected Micah Parsons 12th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and added Jabril Cox in the fourth round after already signing Keanu Neal.
Parsons already has 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks, while Cox and Neal have integrated well in the defense.
Jane slater @SlaterNFL
Can confirm. My sources tell me that #Cowboys tried unsuccessfully to trade Jaylon Smith. “He did everything we asked him to” but ultimately the game of guys like Keanu Neal, Leighton Vander Esch and maybe I’m told the increased use now of Jabril Cox has led to the bc move of ⬇️ https://t.co/2YkPjxS6Ij
Before the arrival of one of these players, The Athletic’s Bob sturm considered if Dallas should cut Smith and concluded he got a shot under new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. However, Sturm followed in August and raised doubts whether the 2016 second-round pick could improve his glaring shortcomings.
“But I’m afraid Smith is reading things slowly right now and his body is playing him slow as well,” he wrote. “I don’t think this is something that can be overcome in the long run.”
After spending his entire rookie season, Smith hasn’t missed a game, but the knee injury he sustained in college is likely the kind of thing that will follow him wherever he goes. The potential for another major injury is a concern, as is how her body will hold up in the long run.
Michael david smith @MichaelDavSmith
Jaylon Smith is a part-time player (56% of defensive snaps this season) with a history of a serious knee injury whose contract has a huge injury guarantee next season. Jerry Jones messed up giving Smith that contract and is doing it now to avoid the risk of injury.
Between 2018 and 2020, Smith compiled 406 tackles, eight sacks and two interceptions. He’s bound to have another opportunity in the NFL.
But the abrupt nature of his Dallas exit is sure to raise questions about the kind of role he can fill elsewhere.
[ad_2]
Source link