News: BR: Travis Frederick Contract: Latest News, Rumors on C's Negotiations with Cowboys

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Center Travis Frederick has been with the Dallas Cowboys for his entire career and is reportedly looking for a long-term contract.

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Frederick Optimistic for Deal After Team Picks Up Option

Sunday, May 1


Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram noted the Cowboys picked up Frederick’s fifth-year option for 2017. Frederick indicated the faith Dallas showed in him could be the next step toward a long-term deal, per Williams:

Obviously, we’d love to do a long-term deal. That’s something that still has yet to be worked out. But the fact that they picked up the option just shows they have faith in me, and that they’re happy with what I’ve been able to accomplish so far. Hopefully, we can use this time to continue to build and get better and build our relationship closer.
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Williams reported the Cowboys guaranteed Frederick $8.8 million in 2017 when they elected to pick up his fifth-year option. However, she also pointed out the team would like to reduce the cap hit by agreeing to a long-term deal.

There is a precedent for such a move along the offensive line. According to Williams, Dallas inked left tackle Tyron Smith to an eight-year extension in 2014 after deciding to pick up his fifth-year option a year earlier.

Based on his on-field results, there is nothing that indicates a long-term contract wouldn’t work out for Frederick. His durability has been critical for the Cowboys offensive line, and he’s started all 48 games since the team used the No. 31 overall pick on him in the 2013 draft. He made the Pro Bowl and the Associated Press named him to its All-NFL second team in each of the last two years.

Matt Claassen of Pro Football Focus noted the Wisconsin product was the website’s top-ranked center in each of the last two seasons as well. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the second-best run-blocking center and fifth-best pass-blocking center in the NFL in 2015, which is a testament to his versatility.

Frederick is the anchor of one of the most talented offensive lines in the league. Football Outsiders ranked the Cowboys line as the sixth-best run-blocking unit last year and the top-ranked group in 2014. Thanks to the holes it created, Darren McFadden tallied 1,089 rushing yards in 2015, and DeMarco Murray put up a head-turning 1,845 yards on the ground in the prior season.

Now the Cowboys offensive line will get to block for Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott, whom the team selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft.

The Ringer pictured an exciting world for Dallas fans with Elliott running behind that offensive line:

If Frederick receives the long-term extension he's looking for, the 25-year-old center will have an opportunity to develop alongside the rookie running back he will be blocking for this season.

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