Report: Cowboys Likely To Exercise LT Tyron Smith’s Option, Could Delay Extension

George Bernard of the Dallas Morning News reports that “all signs point” to the Cowboys exercising their fifth-year option on LT Tyron Smith‘s rookie deal.

• Bernard writes that a Cowboys official termed the possibility of exercising Smith’s option as “reasonable,” while a source close to Smith called it “a given.“

Smith, 23, is currently playing under the four-year, $12.5 million contract he signed as a rookie first-round pick out of USC.  Smith would earn $10.039 million guaranteed in the option year, a drastic increase over his 2014 base salary of $2.079 million.

The Cowboys have until May 3rd to provide Smith with written notice of their decision to pick up the option.  Such a move would buy Dallas time if they elect to wait on negotiating an extension for the elite offensive tackle.

Dallas currently finds itself with one of the worst cap situations in the NFL, though it would be surprising if they do not intend to ultimately give Smith a multi-year deal.

Any potential extension will be costly.  The top paid left tackle in the league in terms of total money is Browns LT Joe Thomas, who signed a seven-year, $80.5 million deal with $37 million guaranteed.

Pro Football Focus graded Smith as the fifth-best tackle in the league last season, allowing only one sack, three quarterback hits, and 27 quarterback hurries.