Tyron Smith was the Dallas Cowboys’ left tackle for 13 seasons, and his quality play has put him on track to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Since being taken ninth overall in the 2011 NFL Draft out of USC, he has earned eight Pro Bowl appearances, two First Team All-Pro choices, and a spot on the league’s 2010s All-Decade Team. Smith has never advanced beyond the divisional round of the playoffs due to the Cowboys’ 3-6 postseason record in his career. His choice to sign with the New York Jets and partner up with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who eliminated him and the Cowboys in the postseason twice while he was with the Green Bay Packers, was all about winning a Super Bowl.
“I saw what they [the Jets] can do as a team, and everyone wants to win, just like any other team,” Smith said on Thursday, according to the team’s Twitter account. “I just believe they have all of the elements in place right now, with the last parts coming in the offseason, to build a team capable of winning the championship. I faced Aaron [Rodgers] a few times during my career [in the postseason]. I know the type of quarterback he is. I know what he can do if you give him some time. I’m only here to do my best to offer him that time.”
Smith is part of the Jets’ offensive line revamp ahead of Rodgers, whose Jets debut in Week 1 of 2023 was cut short by a torn Achilles. New York also signed former Ravens offensive guard John Simpson for two years and $12 million, and traded for former Ravens offensive tackle Morgan Moses.
Despite being limited by numerous ailments over the years, Smith was able to play in 13 of the Cowboys’ 17 regular-season games, as well as their most recent playoff loss to the Packers. During the regular season, Smith allowed only one sack and 16 quarterback pressures, or slightly more than one per game. In 2023, he had the highest Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of any NFL offensive tackle, at 89.9.
“It speaks for what’s been happening for the past couple of years,” Smith told ESPN of his one-year contract, which includes $6.5 million in guaranteed money and $13.5 million in incentives. “Honestly, I think it’s a fair deal.”
Dallas has had little cap space ($5.5 million at the moment, per OverTheCap.com) to make moves in free agency as a result of their inactivity this offseason, most notably not extending 2023 NFL MVP runner-up quarterback Dak Prescott and 2023 NFL receptions leader wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, both of whom are in the final year of their current contracts. They have only signed one external free agent so far, linebacker Eric Kendricks.
“And for the way things were looking in Dallas, I knew it was most likely going to be the Jets,” Smith was quoted as saying. “Honestly, I got excited for a new chapter in my life.”
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