It’s a notable irony in the way the Cowboys manage their contract negotiations. For star players who deserve and eventually receive top-tier contracts, Dallas tends to delay, let discussions linger, and only finalize deals under pressure—similar to how they handled the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott or wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
But when it comes to average or injured players, ones they could potentially wait on before committing to a big deal, the Cowboys often act swiftly, sometimes to their disadvantage. This was the case with lineman Terence Steele, who received an $82.5 million extension (according to Spotrac) in September 2023 despite still recovering from a torn ACL and not performing well.
Steele struggled upon his return, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 50.8, placing him 256th out of 329 linemen. Among linemen who played at least 1,000 snaps in 2023, Steele had the fourth-worst grade.
Nonetheless, this week the Cowboys made an adjustment to Steele’s hefty contract, converting $4.5 million of his 2024 salary into a signing bonus, thereby freeing up some cap space.
Cowboys Expected to Carry Over Cap Space to 2025
ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that the Cowboys restructured right tackle Terence Steele’s contract, creating $4.5 million in cap space. Archer wrote on Twitter/X: “Add that to the cap space saved on Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb’s contracts, and it’s likely that over $20 million will be carried into 2025.”
So, if you’re hoping the Cowboys will use this space to sign players like Jets pass rusher Haason Reddick or receiver Davante Adams, don’t count on it. The team still needs to negotiate a new contract with linebacker Micah Parsons.
No other changes are expected for Steele, who started at right tackle and played all 63 offensive snaps in Week 1.
To be fair, Steele could still live up to his large contract if he fully recovers from his knee injury. Just a few weeks ago, Steele was praised for his performance during training camp.
“I think this is his best camp as a Dallas Cowboy,” coach Mike McCarthy said in August. “You can see the progress he keeps making.”
Terence Steele Showing Improvement
Even if Steele doesn’t meet expectations this year, only $50 million of the contract is guaranteed, and the Cowboys can opt out after next season. While a five-year, $82.5 million deal sounds hefty, it essentially becomes a three-year, $50 million contract if Steele underperforms.
In Week 1, Steele didn’t commit any penalties, although he did allow a sack, earning a PFF grade of 67.9, the second-best among Cowboys linemen.
Despite being criticized for his play last season, especially after allowing four sacks in a loss to the Eagles in Week 5, Steele is proud of his performance overall.
“I was just six months post-surgery,” Steele said on the Cowboys’ website. “I had ups and downs, but everyone does coming back from injury that fast. People my size usually don’t return that quickly. I’m proud of myself for what I accomplished.
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