The longest-tenured Cowboy on the roster, offensive tackle Tyron Smith has not had the most productive last couple of seasons due to injuries. The 33-year-old All-Pro offensive lineman has missed 23 games over the past three seasons, but he is not ready to hang up his cleats just yet. In fact, he wants to return to the Cowboys for another season.
When healthy, Smith is still one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. However, those times have been far and between lately. Considering that the Dallas Cowboys could potentially be in a tight salary cap situation depending on what they decide to do with some of their key contributors this offseason, they might choose to let Smith walk.
In that scenario, Tyler Smith, who the Cowboys drafted with their first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, would take his place.
Tyron Smith, likely about to receive his final contract, would likely get a one-year deal of around $8 million. If he can't agree on a deal with the Cowboys, will presumably go to a team that would give him an opportunity to win a Super Bowl, something he never had the chance to do in Dallas. Here are three teams that fit that bill for the eight-time Pro Bowler.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals provide the perfect combination of a team that can win the Super Bowl in 2024 while also having the ability to pay Smith a lucrative deal in the offseason. Cincinnati has the fifth-most cap space this offseason according to Over the Cap and they have an immediate need at offensive tackle.
Jonah Williams was a major disappointment for the Bengals after he moved to right tackle this season. He allowed 31 sacks over the past three seasons and if the Bengals are aiming high, they need an upgrade at the position. Tyron Smith would certainly be that, providing excellent protection for Joe Burrow.
Kansas City Chiefs
If Smith indeed prioritizes winning a Super Bowl, he will surely have the Chiefs at the top of his list. Kansas City is looking to replace veteran Donovan Smith this offseason, and it will be difficult for them to do better than Tyron Smith for the position.
According to PFF, the Cowboys tackle is the highest-ranked offensive lineman hitting free agency. One of the best blindside protectors in the game, Smith would be an excellent addition to the already potent Chiefs offense with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. In 13 games in 2023, Smith only allowed three sacks and recorded a 97.9 pass-blocking efficiency rating.
As dominant as the Chiefs were last season, especially in the postseason, their offensive line was one of their weaker units. They allowed 164 pressures, the fourth-most in the league. This is an area they will certainly look to address and with a projected $22 million in cap space this offseason, they afford to do so with an elite upgrade.
Detroit Lions
The Lions are in a fascinating spot this offseason. Having just missed a Super Bowl berth, Detroit will look to make the necessary upgrades to get over the hump next season. Fortunately for them, they have plenty of cap space to do that. According to Over the Cap, they have the eighth-most cap space in the NFL heading into March.
Plus, they are bringing most of their core players back. They have plenty of offensive weapons and they are young and under contract. This means that with the right couple of free-agent additions, they could be right back to where they were under Dan Campbell in 2023.
However, the Lions could certainly use some depth in their offensive line. Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker are the only tackles on the roster. Considering how crucial the O-line was to Detroit's success, they should bolster the high-end talent and depth in the offseason.
And as we established before, no team is going to do better than Tyron Smith for their offensive line this offseason.
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