The Dallas Cowboys have the highest-paid guard in the NFL once again.
Seven years after handing out a record extension to franchise icon Zack Martin, Dallas has agreed to a four-year, $96 million extension with left guard Tyler Smith, per multiple reports. This extension moves him past the Kansas City Chiefs’ Trey Smith as the highest-paid guard in NFL history.
The No. 24 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Smith was set to entire the fourth year of his five-year rookie contract. Dallas picked up his fifth-year option that would keep him with the team through 2026.
Smith made his second consecutive Pro Bowl in 2024 and Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 22 guard in the league among 136 qualifying players. He started out at left tackle as a rookie before moving to left guard in his second season.
The Cowboys made waves this offseason by not coming to terms on a deal with star edge rusher Micah Parsons and dealt him to the Green Bay Packers. But they also agreed to extensions for tight end Jake Ferguson, cornerback DaRon Bland and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
Tyler Smith contract details
This new extension makes Smith the highest-paid guard in NFL history and one of the highest-paid offensive linemen league-wide. Here are the specifics, per multiple reports:
- Length: 4 years
- Total value: $96 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $24 million
- Guaranteed: $81.2 million
His AAV is just ahead of Trey Smith – who signed a deal earlier this offseason – by just $500,000, per OverTheCap. Among all offensive linemen, Smith’s AAV ranks ninth in the league.
His total guaranteed money is more than any other offensive lineman in the NFL by a considerable margin. The next-closest is the New York Giants’ Andrew Thomas at $67 million and the next-closest guard is Atlanta’s Chris Lindstrom at $48.2 million.
