Jaylon Smith is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted 34th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Jaylon Smith: Why did the packers release| Contract| Stats
Why did the packers release:
It’s been a rough go lately for Jaylon Smith. The former second-round pick was released by the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 5, as the team looked to avoid his injury guarantee for 2022, an amount that summed to roughly $10 million. Smith would immediately garner interest on the open market and sign two days later with the Green Bay Packers — still viewing himself as “elite” and hoping to rebuild his brand on a defense desperate for help at linebacker.
And despite the recent season-ending torn ACL suffered by Jabril Cox, sources tell CBS Sports they’d be “stunned” (as one specifically put it) if the Cowboys choose to double back for Smith, a player they were so hellbent on moving on from a month ago.
Contract:
In 2019, Smith signed a five-year, $64 million contract extension with the Cowboys with $35.5 million guaranteed, keeping him under contract through 2024.
| Contract: | 1 yr(s) / $990,000 |
| Signing Bonus | – |
| Average Salary | $990,000 |
| Total Guarantees | – |
| Guaranteed at Signing | – |
| Free Agent: | 0 / |
Stats:
Smith started two of the Cowboys’ four games. Smith was often productive for the Cowboys the past three seasons, registering 121 total tackles in 2018, 142 in 2019 and 152 in 2020.
He started all 16 games from 2018 through 2020, but was credited with only two starts in the Cowboys’ four games of the 2021 season, per Pro Football Reference. Smith was credited with 18 tackles, 13 solo, in four games this season. Per ESPN, he played only 148 of 264 defensive snaps.
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| High school: | Bishop Luers (Fort Wayne, Indiana) |
| College: | Notre Dame |
| NFL Draft: | 2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34 |
