Report: Dallas Cowboys reach long-term contract extension with linebacker Jaylon Smith

Things got pretty exciting for the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday afternoon.

The team announced that they would be having a press conference at The Star in Frisco at 4:30 pm CT in order to announce a contract extension. As people everywhere were wondering who the player could be, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport spoiled the party. Jaylon Smith is staying with the Cowboys for a long time.

The Cowboys risked an awful lot when they drafted Jaylon Smith with the 34th overall pick three years ago. Smith, a top-five talent, was doubted by many. Doubted in the sense that there were plenty of people who, rightfully in the minds of many medical experts, wondered whether he would ever play football again.

Smith took a redshirt year during his 2016 rookie season and spent the following year finding his form in the NFL. He really exploded as a true playmaker last season for Dallas and quickly became one half of the league’s best linebacker duos next to then-rookie Leighton Vander Esch.

The Cowboys have been vocal about Smith being a cornerstone player for them basically from the moment that they drafted him. He is a leader for the team in every sense and embraces all that comes with playing under the Cowboys spotlight. To have him around for the foreseeable future is a great thing for the betterment of the team both on and off the field.

Terms haven’t been made public yet but we’ll update once they do.

Congratulations to Jaylon Smith. For someone who’s football future was so much in jeopardy, he’s come such a long way. Cheers to him being part of the Cowboys.