According to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday night, the New York Jets and former Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith reached an agreement. This secures a top performer in their offensive line rebuild.
Smith is expected to sign a one-year contract that, with incentives, could be worth as much as $20 million. It took a while to get the base value.
After recovering from surgery on his Achilles, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will see a fresh lineup. The Jets have added three starters in five days: Smith, right tackle Morgan Moses, and left guard John Simpson.
Last season, the Jets’ offensive line was among the worst in the NFL; they allowed 64 sacks, which was 28th worst in the league. Their offensive line, crippled by inefficiency and injury, began 13 different combinations. With the line improved, the Jets won’t feel pressured to select a tackle when they select 10th overall in the draft.
Smith’s addition carries some risk. Despite being one of the most decorated lines in the NFL, he has missed 37 games in the last four seasons, raising concerns about his longevity.
Age is another consideration. The Jets have two 33-year-old bookends in Smith and Moses to guard their 40-year-old quarterback. However, Smith is a superb pass defender when well.
Smith, an NFL left tackle who was among the greatest for over a decade, after implementing a practice schedule that had him work primarily off to the side during the week, made 14 starts in 2023, the most he had made since 2019.
He did miss three games the previous season due to injuries to his knee and back, and he hasn’t participated in a complete campaign since 2015.
Smith, who will turn 34 in December, finished the season with an 89.1% pass block victory rate and a 78.8% run block win rate, earning him a spot on the second team of the All-Pro team.
He was chosen for the Pro Bowl eight times and was a four-time All-Pro for the Cowboys. Smith was the first offensive lineman selected by the team in the first round. Smith played right tackle as a rookie in 2011.
Cowboys ever since 1981.Due to his departure, the Cowboys will prioritize selecting a tackle in the 2018 draft. With the intention of using Tyler Smith as their left tackle of the future, they selected him in the first round of the 2022 draft. However, Smith has performed so admirably at left guard that the team may decide to keep him on the inside in 2023.
The Cowboys have selected tackles Josh Ball, Matt Waletzko, and Asim Richards in recent years, but none of them seem prepared to start for the team.
