Jaylon Smith reportedly safe as Cowboys consider cap clearing moves
Jaylon Smith signed a five-year extension worth $64 million with $35.5 million in guaranteed money in August of 2019. Ever since he inked his name on the dotted line, the Dallas Cowboys linebacker hasn’t lived to the expectations of his deal. He’s looked slow at times, missed plenty of tackles, been a liability in coverage, and seemed to celebrate making plays when the Cowboys are being dominated on the scoreboard.
It’s led to many wanting him off the roster whether it be a trade or a release, but not the organization. According to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Cowboys aren’t considering releasing Smith for salary cap purposes.
The Cowboys are considering ways to clear cap room through contract restructures and releases.
But one option that is not on the table is the cutting of maligned linebacker Jaylon Smith, according to a source.
If the Cowboys were to go the route of making Smith a post-June 1 cut, that would create $7.2 million in cap space. Also, his $9.8 million cap hit in 2021 would be $2.6 million in dead cap money with another $7.2 million to be charged in 2022. The Cowboys would have to release Smith prior to March 21 or his 2021 salary becomes guaranteed.
Team owner Jerry Jones gave Smith quite the endorsement in November during the Cowboys bye week.
“We don’t have a player out there that doesn’t have things that he doesn’t want to improve on and can be better,” Jones said. “But, boy, I’m glad we got him. He’s one of our cornerstones and he’ll get better and better and better.”
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy echoed Jones’s thoughts once the team’s dismal 6-10 campaign concluded.
“The fact that he lines up every day, the fact that he practices hard every day, plays hard, I thought he gave us some big-time, productive games,” McCarthy said. “I think he’s probably one of the ones that was challenged the most as far as the scheme change. I just love his approach and the way he’s gone about it.”
Former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s hybrid scheme didn’t do Smith any favors. Although he had a career-high with 154 tackles (second in the NFL) he received a putrid 54.2 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2020. Despite an obvious drop-off, Smith was confident in what he put on tape.
“I mean, watch the film,” Smith said late in the year when asked if he saw himself being with the club in 2021. “But for me, it’s a blessing to be able to play this game. So many people thought I’d never play ever again. So for me, I’m my worst critic and I’m my biggest fan. I’m gonna keep at it, keep grinding, but the guys that know football and know our scheme and watch film. I don’t have to speak for myself. It’s all there.”
The Cowboys will have a new mastermind of their defense in 2021 in Dan Quinn. During his days with the Seattle Seahawks, he was the architect of the infamous “Legion of Boom” defense which dominated the NFL with consecutive top-ranked units in 2013 and 2014 and was the spearhead for back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, winning one title.
He’s already figuring out roles for the Cowboys personnel defensively and could possibly turn around Smith’s play and get him back to his 2018 level under a traditional four-man front.
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