Eight-time Pro Bowler hopes to return to Cowboys in 2024

The Cowboys have some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks as they are $19.74 million over the salary cap heading into 2024, per Pro Football Focus. And that could certainly make it difficult to re-sign one of their top free agents, who is hoping to return to Dallas next season.

That player is eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith, and he already told Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News that he has no plans to retire and hopes to continue his career with the Cowboys.

Smith has suffered several injuries over the past few years, but he had his best season in recent memory in 2023. He allowed just one sack and was penalized only three times while being named second-team All-Pro.

The 33-year-old has seen more days in the NFL than he's going to, especially given his injury history. He hasn't played a full season since 2015 and has played only 82 of 131 games since. 

But head coach Mike McCarthy believes there's still a path for Smith to have some good ball left in him.

"I think the fact that he's not going into the offseason with offseason surgeries is a plus," McCarthy said last month at his season-ending news conference. "We'll continue to talk as we move forward."

Whether that'll be with Dallas remains to be seen. The team drafted Tyler Smith in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft to eventually take over for Tyron Smith at left tackle. 

Tyler Smith filled in for Tyron Smith when he tore his hamstring in 2022 but earned Pro Bowl honors and second-team All-Pro at left guard in 2023.

The Cowboys' salary-cap situation does make it feel unlikely that the two sides will agree on a new deal. Smith is expected to receive a one-year, $7.48 million contract, per Spotrac.

However, several teams have been able to manipulate the cap to sign players. Dallas could do the same if it wants to run it back at least one more year with Smith. He's hoping that happens.