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Back in 2011, the NFL draft started operating under the rules of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Part of that agreement were clauses to institute a rookie wage scale. All rookies were limited to four-year contracts, but players selected in the first round had a fifth-year option attached to their contract. The deadline for picking up that option for teams is May 3rd. It was previously reported that the Cowboys intended to do that for their first-round pick in that year, left tackle Tyron Smith. Now sources are confirming that Dallas will do exactly that.
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And why wouldn't they? Smith has become one of the better left tackles in the league and he is still young and improving. He is the cornerstone of a much-improved Cowboys offensive line and along with Travis Frederick should help to keep the Cowboys offense humming for years to come. The fifth-year option locks Smith in through the 2015 season, but it's widely expected that the Cowboys will negotiate another long-term deal with their star left tackle before that.
Smith would make just north of $10 million in 2015 if his contract is not renegotiated, an amount equivalent to a franchise-tagged offensive lineman. Smith made his first Pro Bowl last season and only gave up 1.5 sacks on the season. Besides that, Smith has been very durable, barley missing any time due to injury.
Tyron Smith, OT (9th overall selection in 2011): Another big win from their 2011 draft haul. Smith has already logged 3,076 snaps and amassed an excellent +56.2 grade in that time. Starting off on the right side, he's made the switch to the left side look easier then it is and is coming off his best year as a pro (ranking fourth in our left tackle grades).
Other notes:
-- Runs to the inside of Smith resulted in 5.4 yards per carry on average for the 2013 season; as he and rookie C Travis Frederick paved the way for DeMarco Murray's finest season as a pro.
-- Smith was named as a Second Team AP All Pro last year.