Tyler Smith

Season	Team	GP	Grade
2025		16	F F Bottom 5%
2024		16	F F Bottom 5%
2023		14	F F Bottom 5%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Dallas Cowboys just handed out one of the most questionable contracts of the offseason, giving Tyler Smith a massive $24M AAV deal that earns an F CVI rating — a significant overpay for a guard with an unproven track record. Paying franchise-caliber money to an unproven player at the guard position represents a fundamental misallocation of resources, especially when that same capital could address more pressing needs or retain proven talent. Smith's limited body of work simply doesn't justify placing him among the highest-paid interior linemen in the league, creating immediate pressure for him to perform at an elite level he's never demonstrated. The contract structure compounds the risk with $41.7M guaranteed, meaning the Cowboys are locked into this gamble even if Smith fails to develop into the cornerstone player they're betting he'll become. This deal reeks of the Cowboys' tendency to overpay their own players based on potential rather than production, and it could hamstring their salary cap flexibility while failing to deliver the elite interior line protection Dak Prescott desperately needs.

Performance Analysis

Tyler Smith's F grade in Dallas is a glaring data anomaly for one of the most promising young offensive linemen in the NFL. Smith was a first-round pick who stepped into the Cowboys' starting lineup and performed at a high level, earning praise for his power and athleticism. The F grade bears no resemblance to reality — Smith has been one of Dallas' most reliable linemen, excelling in both pass protection and run blocking. His ability to play both tackle and guard adds versatility that makes him even more valuable. This grade should be completely disregarded in favor of what the tape shows: an ascending young lineman with All-Pro potential.

Current Sentiment

Tyler Smith's public perception sits at a steady B- heading into 2026 — respectable enough for a starting offensive lineman in Dallas, but a long way from the kind of name recognition that generates genuine fan enthusiasm. The narrative around Smith is defined almost entirely by quiet competence: four seasons as a reliable presence on the Cowboys' offensive line, a substantial four-year commitment at $24M AAV from the front office, and a professional reputation untouched by controversy or headline-grabbing moments in either direction. That organizational investment signals real confidence in Smith as a foundational piece rather than a stopgap, yet the absence of Pro Bowl nominations or dominant tape keeps his ceiling in the analyst conversation firmly in the above-average starter tier rather than anything approaching franchise-caliber. The disconnect between his F performance grade and the neutral-to-slightly-positive media sentiment tells a familiar story — offensive linemen who start every week and keep their heads down rarely get hammered publicly even when the tape is underwhelming, and Dallas fans have largely extended Smith that grace. Recent Cowboys activity — most notably the additions of George Pickens and Dee Winters, plus Brandon Aubrey's extension — has kept the offseason conversation focused on skill positions and defensive reinforcements rather than the trenches, which further insulates Smith from scrutiny while also ensuring he stays off the national radar. With reports circulating that Dallas prefers to keep him at left guard and expects competition at left tackle, Smith's role appears settled heading into the regular season, which is about the most stable narrative an offensive lineman can hope for in a market as demanding as Dallas.