The New York Jets solidified their offensive line, signing top free-agent offensive tackle Tyron Smith to a reported one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter.
Schefter would add that this one-year deal could be worth up to $20 million with incentives. Contract specifics are not known at this time. According to Over the Cap, the Jets have $25.3 million in cap space, although a few of their recent additions are not included in that figure.
“Honestly, this has just been happening for the last couple of hours, so I’m still trying to handle things right now,” said Smith via Josina Anderson. Smith added that he’s excited to be a Jet and to protect Aaron Rodgers.
The 33-year-old Smith was considered the best free agent tackle this offseason and is now on the move after spending the first 13 years of his NFL career in Dallas.
Smith, a four-time All-Pro, will immediately slot in as the Jets’ starting left tackle, where he has spent most of his career. Last season, Smith allowed only one sack and 18 regular-season pressures. He ranked fifth in pass-blocking efficiency and was PFF’s top-graded pass-blocking tackle.
Smith has been an incredibly steady force at one of the game’s most important positions. In fact, you have to go all the way back to the 2017 season to find the last time that Smith surrendered more than two sacks in a season, and on two occasions during that span, he didn’t allow any.
Smith played 847 snaps in 2023, or 72 percent of the Cowboys’ total snaps on offense, but played only 271 snaps in 2022 and only 60 percent of snaps in 2021. Since 2015, Smith has missed 49 games.
The addition of Smith now solidifies the Jets’ starting offensive line. With Smith at left tackle, he will have recently signed John Simpson at left guard. Joe Tippmann will be the center, with Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard and Morgan Moses at right tackle.
Given that Smith has missed time due to injuries, adding to the offensive line with the 10th overall pick may still be the prudent move for the Jets, but it no longer falls into the must category.
Rebuilding an offensive line unit that was injury-stricken in 2023 and allowed the second-most pressures was at the top of Joe Douglas’ to-do list this offseason, especially with Aaron Rodgers turning 41 this season and coming off an Achilles injury.
But in a matter of five days, Douglas has done that. While Rodgers’ return will, on its own, improve the offense, the ceiling for this unit will likely be determined by how well the offensive line plays.
