The 90’s teams NEVER paid 4-3 LB’s as they are the least important parts of the defense. We let Ken Norton (among others)walk cause of it and Norton was a hundred times the player Smith is. We then compounded the mistake by spending a first on LVE. We need to get back to cheap LB’s and loading up at other spots
This is a bit of a misleading analysis. Yes, we didn't resign Norton Jr but we still used a 2nd round pick. So while, yes, we didn't spend a ton of money on LBs, we certainly valued the position highly in terms of draft capital invested in the position.
Look at the 93 team - Norton was a 2nd round pick, Edwards was a 2nd round pick, Jones was a 1st round pick, Smith was a 2nd round pick, Myles was the worst of the group having been a 3rd round pick. To imply that we didn't "value" the LB spot and only invested in positions around them on defense is kind of a overstatement IMO.
So when we took a LB in the first and 2nd rounds recently, that is pretty much in line with what those early Cowboys teams did. Now paying Smith all that money, well that is looking like a mistake.