Travis Frederick's Contract Option Reportedly Picked Up by Cowboys

When the Dallas Cowboys took Travis Frederick in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft, they were deluged with confused looks and poor draft grades. Three years and three days after they made that call, the Cowboys made the no-brainer decision to lock up their Pro Bowl center for a fifth season.

Dallas announced it picked up Frederick's fifth-year option Thursday. He will make the average of the third- through 25th-highest salaries among offensive linemen. Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News approximated that will pay Frederick $8.8 million in 2017.

The former No. 31 overall pick's four-year rookie contract guaranteed him $6.87 million. If his 2017 cap hold sticks, Frederick will make nearly seven times what he'll make in 2016 ($1.34 million).

The Cowboys and Frederick can negotiate a long-term extension, which may be the best route for all parties involved. No center in the NFL has an average annual salary higher than $9 million, and the highest guaranteed total is $20 million, which Alex Mack received from the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason.

Frederick, given his age (25) and performance, has a chance to hit the $10 million mark on his next contract. He's made the Pro Bowl and been an All-Pro in each of the last two seasons. The Cowboys have assembled a world-beating offensive line, and Frederick has at times looked like the best player on it. He's a stout run-blocker, offers a high IQ in pass blocking and hasn't missed a single game through his first three NFL seasons.

Dallas' offensive line is so good that it even has draft prospects clamoring to run behind it.

"That's the best offensive line in football," Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott said Wednesday, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. "So it would be an honor for any running back to go run behind them. I'm sure every running back in this draft is licking their chops for the opportunity to play behind that line."

That line was paramount in turning former draft bust Darren McFadden into a 1,000-yard rusher in 2015, so it's no surprise the Cowboys would want to double down and keep Frederick around.

And given his play over the last few seasons, it's likely a precursor to an even bigger deal.

Salary information courtesy of Over the Cap unless noted otherwise.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.