Cowboys Officially Excerise OT Tyron Smith’s Fifth-Year Option

Albert Breer reports that the Cowboys have officially exercised LT Tyron Smith‘s the fifth-year option.

• Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas first reported that the Cowboys had done so, but the move didn’t become official until today.

The Cowboys will owe Smith $10.039 million for the 2015 season. However, this figure is only guaranteed for injury and won’t prevent Dallas from working on a long-term extension that would reduce this salary.

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.

Smith, 23, is currently playing under the four-year, $12.5 million contract he signed as a rookie first-round pick out of USC.

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.