The Dallas Cowboys have reached an agreement with their starting right tackle, Terence Steele, on a lucrative contract extension that makes him amongst the NFL’s highest-paid tackles. The two sides agreed to a five-year, $86.8 million deal that includes $50 million in guaranteed money.
Steele now has the ninth-richest contract among tackles in the NFL. The Cowboys have invested nearly $200 million into their two starting tackle positions on the offensive line. Starting left tackle Tyron Smith is currently playing on an eight-year, 97.6 million contract he signed with the Cowboys in 2014.
Earning $17.36 million per year once the contract kicks in next season, Steele is currently set to be the 17th highest-paid tackle in the NFL on a per-year-basis.
After arriving to the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020 out of Texas Tech University, Steele has made the most of his opportunity and cemented himself as the franchise’s starting right tackle for the foreseeable future.
Through three seasons, Steele has played in at least 85 percent of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps each of the past two seasons. In 2021, he showcased his versatility as a player who can play multiple positions across the offensive line, filling in at left tackle when Tyron Smith had to miss time due to injury.
After paying Steele and restructuring All-Pro offensive guard Zack Martin’s contract to end his holdout and make him amongst the highest-paid at his position, the Cowboys are betting on their offensive line to win them games.
At 26 years old, Steele’s new contract will run through the 2028 season if he does not sign another extension with the Cowboys by then. Currently set to enter unrestricted free agency in 2029 when he will be 32 years old, Steele should have a chance to secure another big extension down the road.
