[ad_1]
OXNARD, Calif. – While discussions with Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper have mostly failed over the summer, the Dallas Cowboys have signed a major contract for their future, linebacker Jaylon Smith having agreed to an agreement, said sources to ESPN.
Smith was about to become a restricted free agent after this season, but he chose to take the security of a longer term deal now rather than going through a potentially lengthy negotiation.
1 related
On August 13, owner and CEO Jerry Jones hinted at the possibility of an extension being finalized.
Talks were first discussed in the spring between Smith's agents and the Cowboys.
Smith's story may have played a role in his request for early extension.
In 2016, he was projected among the top five picks, but was suffering from a serious knee injury, two torn ligaments and nerve damage that frightened many teams to choose him. The Cowboys took him to the second round, at number 34, partly because one of their doctors, Daniel Cooper, operated on Smith.
Dan, Stugotz and Greg Cote talk to Clearance Hill Jr. about the super-movie "Zeke Who", Weekend Observations, Dennis Rodman's top 10 craziest stories and so much more. Listen now!
The Cowboys knew that Smith would not play his rookie season, but now consider him a centerpiece after his return.
Because Smith spent the 2016 season on the list of non-football related injuries, he did not win an accumulated year as a free agent, which is why he would have been a restricted free agent after the 2019 season.
Smith did not miss a match of his two seasons and was credited by the coaches with 249 tackles. He started every game in 2018, finishing second in 150 (tackles) and with four sacks, five defeat tackles, 13 quarterbacks, four break-offs, two forced fumbles and two chip recoveries.
[ad_2]
Source link