Terence Steele has taken an unexpected path from an undrafted free agent to a key piece of the Cowboys’ offensive line. Now, the veteran tackle enters 2026 with another important season ahead. 

Dallas reworked Terence Steele's contract this spring, creating nearly $10 million in salary cap space. The move also puts added pressure on the veteran right tackle to prove he still has a long-term future with the team.

“Though he didn't perform at those levels, the team didn't take the opportunity to move on from him,” the Cowboys Wire report stated. “Instead, they reworked his contract this spring to bring down his money and cap hit.” 

After going undrafted out of Texas Tech in 2020, Steele earned the starting right tackle job in Week 1 of his rookie season and has remained Dallas' starting right tackle ever since. Even now, his contract keeps him in Dallas through 2028.

His rise eventually led Dallas to hand him a lucrative extension, with the veteran now crossing $51.1 million in career earnings, according to K.D. Drummond of Cowboys Wire. 

Even so, one part of his game continued to raise questions. While Steele remained a reliable run blocker, he could not deliver the same consistency in pass protection. 

The same problems continued in 2025. Steele posted a 54.9 pass-blocking grade while allowing six sacks and 52 quarterback pressures, and he has also never recorded an overall PFF grade higher than 63.7 and has finished below 60 in each of the last three seasons. 

But pass protection was not the only part of Steele's game. His work in the running game remained a big reason why Dallas continued to trust him. 

Steele posted run-blocking grades of 78.9 and 70.2 over the last two seasons, with his best mark of 82.1 coming in 2022.

Those numbers likely helped Dallas stay committed to him before eventually restructuring his deal. 

Beyond his contract situation, the Cowboys still have a bigger challenge to address on the offensive line. The focus now shifts toward how Dallas handles its tackle positions heading into 2026. 

Why does Terence Steele remain important for the Cowboys’ tackle plans in 2026?

According to Mauricio Rodriguez of A to Z Sports, the Cowboys' biggest offensive line questions heading into 2026 are at tackle, making Terence Steele an important part of their plans at right tackle. 

“The Cowboys’ offensive line concerns live exclusively on the edges,” the report stated. “On the interior, Dallas has one of the strongest trios in football.” 

The Cowboys have invested in building a strong interior unit, but the tackle positions remain unsettled.

Tyler Guyton is competing for the left tackle role, while Terence Steele continues to hold the right tackle spot as one of the more experienced players on the offensive line. 

For Steele, the focus will be on providing stability at right tackle while Dallas looks to solve its biggest offensive line concern heading into 2026. 

Do you think Terence Steele can prove himself in 2026? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Divyanshi Raj

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote