Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys would be smart to extend multiple players this offseason in addition to all-world pass rusher Micah Parsons. While Parsons should be the top priority, left guard Tyler Smith, cornerback DaRon Bland and kicker Brandon Aubrey all deserve new deals.
Jones clearly has not learned his lesson by dragging out contract extensions. Parsons' price has increased by some $5 million since the season ended and now the same can be said about Smith, who was just named one of the best players in the league under age 25.
The Bears and guard Joe Thuney have agreed to a two-year extension to keep Tuney in Chicago beyond 2025. The deal is worth $17.5 million per year, bringing the total to $51 million for the next three years, including $33.5 million fully guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Bears extending Joe Thuney means Tyler Smith just got more expensive for Cowboys
Thuney's new $17.5 million annual average value (AAV) makes him the fourth-highest paid left guard per Over The Cap.
A first-team All-Pro the last two seasons, Thuney should aruably be the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in football. With four Super Bowl rings and three Pro Bowls, you'd be hard-pressed to name a more accomplished offensive lineman in the game today.
Perhaps his age (he'll turn 33 in November) played a factor, but regardless his new deal confirms Smith's price just went up.
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The Eagles' Landon Dickerson ($21 million AAV), the Colts' Quenton Nelson ($20 million AAV) and the Packers' Aaron Banks ($19.25 million AAV) are the three highest-paid LGs. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Dickerson is Smith's best comp.
A second-round pick in 2021, Dickerson has made three straight Pro Bowls. His 79.2 PFF grade last season ranked eighth among qualified guards. However, Smith allowed fewer pressures, hurries, sacks and had a higher pass-blocking efficiency, per PFF.
Smith has a really strong argument to reset the left guard market.
It's not breaking news that the former first-round pick will cost a lot of money, but this is yet another example of Jerry Jones waiting until the eleventh hour to extend homegrown stars. It burned him with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott and is going to burn him again with Parsons and Smith.
Smith established himself as a cornerstone piece after an All-Pro sophomore season. Yes, Dallas had other deals to get done in that timeframe, but there are myriad ways to manipulate the salary cap.
Just ask the Eagles.