Source - LT Tyron Smith unlikely to return to Cowboys - ESPN

FRISCO, Texas — Tyron Smith is unlikely to play a 14th season with the Dallas Cowboys after initial discussions left the sides at different ends of the salary spectrum, according to a source, who confirmed multiple reports.

The Cowboys met with Smith's agent on Friday during the NFL scouting combine to see what the chances that their 2011 first-round pick would return in 2024. A door to potentially returning, however, is not closed if the market for Smith does not materialize at the start of free agency.

Speaking Friday after the meeting, owner and general manager Jerry Jones struck an optimistic tone.

«We'll get in there in the right way and discuss his business and work out something that's good for both of us,» Jones said. «He's had a great career. He's a Hall of Fame player. And not only that, his personal life is one of the great stories that I've been a part of with players, or coaches or anybody, commissioners or anybody in the NFL. So, where I'm going with this is to certainly get something that would have him on the field, I can't tell you how good shape I thought we were in with him as we got into the playoffs and his health and where he was. Thought we were just where you want to be. And I gave a lot of credit to coach Mike McCarthy, him getting it pushed up there to where we had him just right as we went into the playoffs.»

While Smith played 14 games in 2023, he has not played a full season since 2015. He has dealt with serious neck, back, hamstring and elbow injuries but last year he and the team found a suitable practice plan that kept him game ready while limiting the amount of contact he would get during the week. He was named a second team All Pro after posting a season which he had an 89.1% pass block