In order to create a little salary cap relief the Dallas Cowboys have decided to restructure the contracts of Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and La’el Collins after officially signing Dak Prescott to a massive long-term extension.
Whether it’s foolishness or faith, the Dallas Cowboys are taking a bit of a risk restructuring the contracts of two players who are coming off season-ending injuries and another who has been fighting the injury bug as well the past couple of seasons. One things for sure though, the Cowboys are banking on all three for the long haul now.
Other than creating an additional $17 million in cap room, this business decision likely impacts the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft as well. By restructuring both Tyron Smith and La’el Collins it likely means we can scratch off offensive tackle in the first-round for the Dallas Cowboys.
There have been more than a few draft analysts, myself included, who have mocked Rashawn Slater to the Dallas Cowboys with the 10th overall pick. Other than one of the top cornerbacks, Caleb Farley and Patrick Surtain II, Slater has been one of the more popular targets for the Cowboys in the first-round. That may no longer be the case.
To me, the restructuring of Tyron Smith and La’el Collins signals the Dallas Cowboys feel good about their starting tackles for 2021 and beyond. If that is indeed the case there is no need to draft an OT very high in the upcoming draft. Upgrading the swing tackle position behind them though isn’t out of the question, but that can be accomplished later in the draft.
I don’t know about you, but I’m really hoping Dallas’ bookends are able to rebound from their season-ending injuries last year and remain healthy for an entire season. That’s something Tyron Smith has found nearly impossible to do for several years now, but hopefully opting for surgery to fix his ongoing neck issues fixes the problem for good.
If Smith and Collins return to form and play up to their talent the Dallas Cowboys should once again have two of the best bookends in the entire league. The faith they’ve shown by restructuring of their contracts indicates they are both well on their way to being the players they once were pre-injury. Fingers crossed that is indeed the case.
