The New York Jets, and general manager Joe Douglas, potentially struck gold by signing veteran left tackle Tyron Smith to anchor what had previously been one of the NFL’s leakiest offensive lines.
Tyron Smith provides veteran stability as one of the premier players at a premium position, for a franchise that has lofty expectations in 2024 thanks in large part to former MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ return.
For the former Dallas Cowboys stalwart, signing with the New York Jets was an easy decision.
“I feel like it’s an amazing new start,” Smith told the team’s website. “What’s being built here is amazing. It’s built to win.”
Smith will be critical to Rodgers returning to form and the offense reaching new heights, after struggling mightily to find any sort of consistency during a disappointing 7-10 campaign in 2023 that saw Rodgers’ season come to an end after just four snaps thanks to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Adding Smith and wide receiver Mike Williams offers the Jets plenty of reason to be optimistic that 2024 will be a vastly different story.
What Tyron Smith Adds to New York Jets’ Offensive Line
Tyron Smith gives the New York Jets an anchor along the offensive line, and could play a starring role in a franchise renaissance, especially if Rodgers can stay healthy and return to form in 2024.
One current AFC coach suggests Smith landing with the Jets will pay the biggest dividends of any move made thus far in NFL free agency.
“The one not to sleep on is Tyron Smith to the Jets,” the offensive coach tells me. “If he can stay healthy and secure Rogers, then they will win a lot of games”
Last season, as Pro Football Focus points out, Tyron Smith allowed just one sack in 847 snaps with the Dallas Cowboys, while garnering an elite 83.8 overall grade and 88.6 pass-protection grade from the outlet.
Smith protecting Rodgers’ blindside could prove to be transcendent to New York’s playoff hopes, especially if the 33-year-old is as consistently dominant with the Jets as he has been throughout his career in Dallas.
More must-reads: