Cowboys and Star LB Jaylon Smith Agree to Long-Term Contract Extension

While Dallas Cowboys fans were certainly hoping this would center around Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, or, perhaps most importantly, Ezekiel Elliott, this is still uplifting news for one of the best defenses in the league.

Jerry Jones and Co. have reportedly agreed to a long-term contract extension with stud linebacker Jaylon Smith.

The #Cowboys have reached a long-term extension with LB Jaylon Smith, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 20, 2019

This confirms it'll be Smith and Leighton Vander Esch manning the middle of the Cowboys' defense for years to come. The Dallas faithful must be ecstatic about that after seeing what this duo did to opposing offenses last year.

Smith, who the Cowboys took a risk on when they selected him with the 34th overall pick in the 2016 draft, truly emerged last season. He missed all of 2016 with a knee issue -- something the Cowboys knew would be the case upon drafting him -- and then he appeared in all 16 games (making six starts) in 2017. But he logged 16 starts in 2018 and registered 121 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries in a breakout campaign.

So the first lucrative deal that Dallas gives out this summer is not to Ezekiel Elliott nor Dak Prescott nor Amari Cooper, but LB Jaylon Smith.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 20, 2019

So, while the Cowboys have a lot of work to do in locking up stars on the offensive side of the ball, fans can rest easy knowing the front office is orchestrating other moves as they prepare to keep their core intact.