Tyler Smith signs four-year, $96 million extension to become NFL's highest-paid guard

Tyler Smith agreed to a four-year, $96 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, making him the highest-paid guard in NFL history, according to league insider Ian Rapoport. The deal includes $81.2 million guaranteed.

The 24-year-old Smith, in his fourth NFL season after being selected 24th overall in the 2022 draft, now eclipses the $94 million extension signed by Trey Smith with the Kansas City Chiefs in July. Smith has started at guard for Dallas since his rookie year and was a key component of the team's offensive line plans entering the 2025 season.

The extension comes roughly two weeks after the Cowboys traded Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers following a protracted contract stalemate. Dallas' offensive front is undergoing a broader transition after the retirements of seven-time All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and longtime tackle Tyron Smith during the offseason. Tyron Smith played his final season with the New York Jets.

Dallas moved to secure Smith as it navigates the reshaped line. Team officials did not immediately provide comment on the contract. League reports indicated the agreement was finalized on Saturday and made public through NFL reporting channels.

Smith first earned a regular starting role early in his NFL career and has been part of an offensive-line group that the Cowboys redesigned over the last two seasons. The size of the guarantees in Smith's new deal places him among the top-paid interior linemen in the league and sets a new benchmark for guard contracts.

The Cowboys have not released a breakdown of the extension's structure beyond the guaranteed figure. The timing and terms of the deal will figure into Dallas' roster-management plans as the team adjusts to recent departures and continues its offseason roster construction. Further details and official confirmations are expected from the club and the NFL in the coming days.