The Cowboys have lost an important role player from the offense as fullback Keith Smith is reportedly signing with the Oakland Raiders.
The #Raiders and FB Keith Smith have agreed to terms on a 2-year worth $4.2million, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2018
Smith, who has been with Dallas for four seasons, was the team’s fullback the last two seasons. He started as a linebacker after going undrafted in 2014.
Whether on offense or defense, Keith has been a regular part of the special teams units. The Cowboys’ previous special teams coach, Rich Bisaccia, just left this offseason to join the coaching staff in Oakland. That is a likely cause for Smith heading to the Raiders.
Dallas elected not to give Smith a restricted free agent tender, which made sense given his position. Even the lowest tender of $1.9 million would have been too rich for a part-time player.
Even with Keith gone, Dallas may not need to sign a new fullback. Backup RB Rod Smith has experience in that role. They could also use tight ends James Hanna or Geoff Swaim.
Fullback is obviously not the position it used to be in the days of Daryl Johnston, but there are still times you need that lead blocker out of the backfield. Given their reliance on the run game and the success that Ezekiel Elliott had with Keith Smith, Dallas will have to find a solid replacement plan.
Well as usual another free agency period and as usual Dallas management is sitting on their hands watching other teams sign players who will maybe better their teams. Jerry didn’t learn a thing from the Eagles last season. The Eagles went out and got players thru the draft, free agency, and trades, and built a SB team. They didn’t do this “bargain” hunting approach that Stephen Jones favors. This bargain hunting has worked out so well too. They end up signing players who are a year or two from retirement or somebody who wasn’t that good to begin with, and then think they out smarted everybody again. They are the joke of the league. It is too bad to because they have some really good players on this team who will never get to a SB unless they sign some where else. They have a BIG need at safety. Well Tyronn Matheau is sitting out there, and they will watch as somebody else snatches him up. Yes he has injury issues, but when healthy he is a good S. I think they could work a deal with him. They should really take a run at him because he has a ton of upside since he is only 25. I really doubt that they will though because they don’t believe in paying a lot on FA’s. I realize they got burned when they signed Brandon Carr, but the method they have now is not working and they need to be more aggressive in free agency and trades or they will forever be mediocre.