The Dallas Cowboys signed Aldon Smith to a one-year deal last April after a five-year hiatus from the gridiron as he dealt with off-the-field issues, making him one of the feel-good stories of the 2020 NFL season.
His return to the Cowboys was something under consideration, that was until Wednesday afternoon. According to ESPN's Ed Werder, the 31-year old will not be back in Dallas in 2021.
Source: The #Cowboys have informed pass-rusher Aldon Smith that they have decided to move on from him after one season. After being reinstated last season following a series of suspensions, Smith had five sacks playing his first NFL games since 2015. He is a free agent.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) March 24, 2021
Smith came out on fire last season with four sacks in the first three games which included a three-sack performance against the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, his production took a significant dip afterward with just one sack for the rest of the season. He finished with 48 tackles, five sacks, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown in 16 starts. Also, his 70.0 pass-rush grade was 31st last season according to Pro Football Focus.
The Cowboys may have already covered their bases with Smith's role next season with the signing of edge rusher Tarell Basham last week. Nonetheless, the former All-Pro will now look to continue his redemption story elsewhere in 2021.
