Report: Aldon Smith signing with Cowboys after 4-year absence
Aldon Smith has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, paving the way for him to return to the NFL after a four-year absence, reports Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.
The edge rusher will ink a one-year contract that includes $2 million in base salary and another $2 million in sack-based incentives, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Smith is still awaiting full reinstatement from the NFL, but the process is underway, Garafolo notes.
The 30-year-old hasn't appeared in a game since 2015, when he played for the then-Oakland Raiders, due to a series of off-field issues.
A former seventh overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers, Smith enjoyed a stellar start to his career before off-field problems brought him down. He had 42 sacks in his first three seasons, the third-most to begin a career in NFL history.
Aldon Smith career stats
| Year | Team | Games | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 49ers | 16 | 14 |
| 2012 | 49ers | 16 | 19.5 |
| 2013 | 49ers | 11 | 8.5 |
| 2014 | 49ers | 7 | 2 |
| 2015 | Raiders | 9 | 3.5 |
Smith's off-field issues first surfaced in 2012 when he was arrested for driving under the influence. He's been arrested three more times since then on suspicion of driving under the influence, most recently in June 2019. Smith is now sober, according to Glazer.
In 2014, he was arrested after allegedly making a bomb threat at the Los Angeles International Airport. Charges stemming from the incident were eventually dropped.
In 2017, he pleaded no contest to a hit-and-run charge.
In 2018, he was arrested for violating the terms of a court order that insisted he stay away from his fiancee, who he had been accused of assaulting. He was arrested months later for violating his bail conditions.
Smith will join a Cowboys defensive front that could also include Randy Gregory, who is reportedly applying for reinstatement following his own off-field issues.