With the Dallas Cowboys shockingly releasing linebacker Jaylon Smith, should the Philadelphia Eagles consider signing him?
The Dallas Cowboys, ever popular in the media world, decided to take some attention away from Tuesday night’s AL Wild Card game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees by shockingly releasing linebacker Jaylon Smith. The move comes four games into the 2021 campaign and not even halfway through the second year of his six-year, $68.4 million contract.
With the former second-round draft pick available to be signed by any NFL team, should the Philadelphia Eagles consider signing him as a way to get back at the rival Cowboys?
Should the Eagles sign Jaylon Smith?
Well, the decision to release Smith does not necessarily come as a shock when you look at it from a play perspective. The linebacker has looked lost in coverage and is a liability at times on the field. It is not surprising to see that Smith fell out of favor with the Cowboys and new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, as he went from playing in 50 snaps in Week 3 against the Eagles, to playing 28 this past Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
Snaps by game for Jaylon Smith this season:
Week 1: 16
Week 2: 54
Week 3: 50
Week 4: 28 📉
His $9.2M base salary for 2022 was guaranteed for injury and Dallas didn’t feel comfortable with that. Decide to pull the plug now.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 6, 2021
This season, Smith has allowed nine completions for 65 yards and one touchdown on 10 targets, per Pro Football Reference. Last year, Smith surrendered 42 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns on 59 targets.
The more shocking thing about Smith’s release is that it came so early into the season and into his new contract. Now, the Cowboys are stuck eating $9.8 million in dead money in 2021 and $6.8 million in 2022.
The Eagles are in a position where they are trying to gain ground on both the Cowboys and the Washington Football Team in the NFC East standings. Smith is a big enough name that will entice the teams that are in need of a linebacker. The thing is, they will have to weigh the pros and cons of his play before deciding to take the chance.
When it comes to the Eagles, they do have a need at linebacker, but they must consider if his play will really help improve their defense as a whole. If they do, then they should consider signing him to a team-friendly deal for the remainder of the season.
