The Dallas Cowboys elected not to re-sign future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith ahead of the free agency period this week. However, that doesn't mean his time in Dallas is done.
According to Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, Dallas has not closed the door on a potential reunion with Smith, and there is a possibility that he remains with America's Team.
"No one thinks more of Tyron," Jones said on Thursday. "Tyron Smith is going to be a Hall of Famer football player. He's had an amazing career and we certainly haven't shut the door on a continued career here in Dallas. He's a man's man and he's one of the great left tackles to ever play the game. No one feels better about Tyron Smith than this organization."
Smith, who has spent the last 13 seasons with the Cowboys, is one of the most decorated offensive linemen in franchise history, earning eight Pro Bowl nods, five All-Pro team honors - two of which were first-team - and making the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.
Currently, the going market price for Smith is a one year, $7.5 million deal, according to Spotrac.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, currently have $2.24 million in cap space, without taking into account the recent agreement they reached with linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Of course, the Cowboys could easily find a way to make room for Smith should they so choose.
But given his inability to stay healthy in recent years, it could be more prudent for Dallas to seek out a more reliable veteran or a promising young rookie in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Either way, the door still remains open for a Smith return.