FRISCO — In the present, Tyler Smith is scheduled to start at left tackle for the Cowboys in the regular-season finale against the Giants.
Smith said it’s important to finish the season strong.
But when it comes to the future, Smith, the All-Pro left guard, isn’t sure if he’s the left tackle for 2026 and beyond. When the offseason comes calling, and it will next week with the Cowboys’ season over, conversations are mandatory about whether Smith changes positions.
“I feel like yeah, I think clarity for all of us, not only as an offensive line unit but just as an organization,” Smith said Monday. “It would just be good to have clarity as to what their mindset is and what their vision is for our room and as a position group. Ultimately, the best thing I can do right now is finish out the right way and dominate whatever position I line up on Sunday and I understand that. I’m sure we’ll have conversations in the future.”
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At times during his career, All-Pro right guard Zack Martin was asked to play tackle, and he declined. It’s something Smith said he understands.
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“There’s a lot of ins and outs to this and you just got to sit down and have a dialogue and hear what everybody has to say,” Smith said.
There is a potential financial component to this. Smith has the highest average salary for a guard at $24 million per season. Kansas City’s Trey Smith has the second-highest at $23.5 million.
In September, Tyler Smith signed a four-year $96 million deal with $81.6 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid player at his position. A position switch would land him outside of the top five highest-paid players at left tackle. In July, the Chargers signed Rashawn Slater to the richest deal for a tackle at four-years and $114 million, with $92 million guaranteed. Currently, five left tackles average $25 million per season.
Smith said he’s open to moving to left tackle.
“We’ll have conversations about it,” he said. “I feel like that’s the biggest thing is just having that dialogue, and like really understanding what the vision is. That’s really important to me.”
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