When you’re a Jet … you’re a Jet all the way?
Prior to helping the Kansas City Chiefs to a 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, offensive tackle Donovan Smith may have tipped his hand in relation to his impending free agency.
Smith, a native of Hempstead, NY, as well as a lifelong New York Jets fan, essentially told the New York Post that joining Gang Green would be “childhood dream come true.”
He may get that chance this offseason — now armed with two Super Bowl rings to strengthen his resume.
“I grew up a Jets fan. I’m from New York, so that would definitely be something I would appreciate before my career ends,” Smith said. “It would definitely be something that’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing for a lot of people, so we’ll see when that day comes. But right now, I’m just focusing on the big game.”
Despite being graded overall at 55.4 by Pro Football Focus — thanks largely in part to his 10 penalties and 47 allowed pressures — Smith has played an essential part of Kansas City’s stout offensive line. The 30-year-old left tackle routinely demonstrated a consistent and impressive ability to overwhelm defenders when blocking for the run, while anchoring well to protecting the passer. Perhaps most impressively, he allowed only two sacks in 749 snaps this year.
Prior to joining the Chiefs last offseason, Smith spent eight seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him in the second round (No. 34 overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft. Having won his first ring with the Bucs in 2021, and his second on Sunday night, Smith has now protected arguably the two best quarterbacks in NFL history in Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
Could he add Aaron Rodgers’ name to that list?
While the team certainly had its struggles at quarterback, a large portion of the blame pie for the Jets' anemic output in 2023 can be attributed to the porous nature of their offensive line. Ranking in the lower third of the NFL in nearly every measurable metric — including No. 30 overall by Pro Football Network — it should come as no surprise that New York may be eager to invest prime capital to repair a severely fractured unit.
Though some have projected his potential role as no greater than a depth option, Smith’s 2023 performance has lent credence to his aspirations of remaining a starting left tackle in the NFL — perhaps with the Jets. Rodgers, having suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles on just his fourth offensive snap of the season. is hopeful to be ready for the start of training camp in June. While Smith may have his physical limitations, the Jets 40-year-old veteran quarterback has frequently opined for protectors which possess battle-tested experience with deep playoff runs.
New York is projected to have approximately $4.9 million in available cap space at the start of the NFL year in March — meaning that the Jets brass would need to enact some creative money management to make Smith’s dream a reality.
However, if his recent sentiments are a sign of things to come, Smith and the Jets may find a way to bring the veteran left tackle, and two-time Super Bowl champion, home to the Meadowlands …
… somehow … some way … somewhere.
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