The New York Jets swung for the fences in free agency, landing All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith to anchor had been one of the NFL’s leakiest offensive lines, in front of former MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Smith, 33, remains one of the more consistently dominant offensive tackles in the sport, but his arrival in the Swamps of Jersey isn’t without inherent risk due to his age and potential decline during the life of his new deal.
“I feel like it’s an amazing new start,” Smith told the team’s website, after signing his new deal. “What’s being built here is amazing. It’s built to win.”
New York Jets’ Biggest Tyron Smith Concern
Pro Football Focus lists the Jets‘ Smith signing as one of the biggest ‘boom or bust’ propositions in free agency, so far.
“Smith will massively upgrade the left tackle spot for the Jets when he plays,” Brad Spielberger writes for PFF. “A vital position protecting the blindside of 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers as he comes back from his Achilles tear — but how much of Smith the Jets actually get is a roll of the dice. If they get a similar result to last season, it will be a success even if they will need to find a contingency plan for a few games, and they will just have to hope that those games aren’t the most important ones of their season.
“Nonetheless, they could also just as easily get a season like the year before, where Smith played in only four games and totaled 271 snaps.”
Last season, Smith allowed just one sack in 847 snaps while garnering an 83.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, underscoring his dominance.
When healthy and effective, Smith has the potential to be the stalwart the Jets are paying $6.5 million for in 2024. However, as Spielberger points out, betting on Smith’s health could be a risky proposition.
However, one current AFC coach suggests Tyron Smith landing in New York as the New York Jets’ starting left tackle will pay the biggest dividends of any move made so far in 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”
