The Jets’ offensive line has finally fully come together.
According to a source, former Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith has agreed to a one-year deal with the Jets. With incentives, Smith could earn up to $20 million.
This year’s free agency period began with Gang Green needing three starters on its offensive line. In just a few days, the Jets filled all three vacancies.
First, the Jets signed left guard John Simpson to a two-year, $18 million deal. Then, they traded with the Ravens to acquire right tackle Morgan Moses, who played for with Gang Green in 2021.
Now, the Jets have added Smith, who has been one of the best tackles in the NFL for the last decade. Even at 33, Smith continues to play at a high level.
Last season, Smith allowed just one sack and committed three penalties in 13 games for the Cowboys. However, his injury history is concerning.
Smith has missed 37 games over the last four seasons, including four for the Cowboys last year. He also only played in four games during the 2022 season.
Because of Smith’s injury history, the Jets likely still have work to do to fortify its offensive line depth. Last season, the Jets used 14 different offensive line combinations in 17 games. The year before that, 11 different players started games on the Jets’ offensive line.
Gang Green’s offensive line allowed 64 sacks last season, which was the 28th most in the league.
Considering how snakebitten the unit has been recently, it is obvious they cannot rely on Smith to stay healthy for a full 17-game season. Especially when Aaron Rodgers is coming off a season-ending Achilles tear.
With Smith only on a one-year contract, that does not preclude the Jets from selecting a tackle in the NFL Draft (April 25–27) next month. But now, the Jets could take the best available player, maybe a wide receiver, which they could also use. Gang Green could also potentially trade down to recoup the second-round pick the team lost in the last April’s Rodgers trade.
At the NFL Combine last month, Jets general manager Joe Douglas told reporters that Alijah Vera-Tucker‘s flexibility gives the team a lot of options. Douglas also said the Jets want to keep Vera-Tucker at one spot after playing him at every offensive line position but center during the last two seasons.
With Smith projected to start at left tackle, Vera-Tucker will stay at right guard. Simpson will be the Jets’ left guard, Joe Tippmann will remain at center, and Moses will start at right tackle.
