PFF names Cowboys starter projected to earn $76 million one of NFL's 25 best under age 25
PFF names Cowboys starter projected to earn $76 million one of NFL's 25 best under age 25 Dallas' young cornerstone in the trenches is gaining national recognition for his consistency, growth, and all-around impact through his first three NFL seasons.
In the NFL, it's never easy to make a name for oneself, especially before turning 25. However, All-Pro guard Tyler Smith has done just that, and then some. Pro Football Focus' Jonathon Macri recently ranked the top 25 NFL players under the age of 25 heading into the 2025 season, and the Dallas Cowboys' versatile guard came in at No. 22.
Offensive line is one of the most difficult positions to hit the ground running at in the NFL, but through his first three years in the league, Smith has done just that, ranking in the top 10 at his position since 2022 in PFF WAR.
Smith has established himself as a very good run blocker, ranking in the top 20 at his position in each of his first three seasons, though he has also developed nicely as a pass blocker. He has gradually increased his PFF pass-blocking grade each year since entering the NFL, culminating in a 76.0 mark in 2024 — a top-10 figure for the position.
Since being drafted in 2022, Smith has become one of the most dependable young linemen in the league. He's logged over 3,300 snaps in three seasons, a workload that speaks to his durability and consistency, and he's backed it up with performance. His three-year PFF grade sits at a strong 79.1, and his Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metric ranks him among the top 10 offensive linemen in football during that stretch.
Smith's run blocking has been a strength since Day One, finishing in the top 20 at his position in that department every year he's been in the league. But what's impressed evaluators most is his steady growth in pass protection. After entering the NFL with room to grow in that area, Smith's pass-blocking grade has improved every season — peaking at 76.0 in 2024, good for top-10 status among guards.
He's so talented, he has a projected market value of a four-year, $76 million extension, according to Spotrac.
Still just 23, the former 2022 first-round pick looks like a long-term cornerstone on Dallas' offensive line, a line that's quietly been retooling for the next chapter after the Tyron Smith and Zack Martin era. If his current trajectory holds, Smith will go down as one of the best at his position, regardless of age.
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