To provide essential protection for their 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets are considering the option of securing veteran All-Pro Tyron Smith from the Dallas Cowboys, either through the NFL Draft or free agency.
Amidst the crucial task of bolstering the offensive line to ensure protection for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets are exploring options, including potential additions like Trent, Taliese, or notably, Tyron. Acknowledging that the team’s prospects for the upcoming season heavily hinge on the ability to shield the 40-year-old Rodgers, the consensus is clear: the Jets must prioritize securing a robust offensive line. The urgency for this reinforcement was underscored by Rodgers’ early-season sack, resulting in a torn Achilles, a season derailed, and ultimately concluding with a 7-10 record and missing out on the playoffs.
With the NFL Mock Draft season gaining momentum, the New York Jets, who possess the 10th overall pick, are already being associated with Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. Regarded as having the requisite size and skills to become the coveted “franchise left tackle,” Fuaga emerges as a potential solution to the Jets’ pressing needs.
However, the question arises: What if the Jets address this need before the draft in April?
In the upcoming free agency period in March, the New York Jets might explore options such as considering Trent Brown, a talented but occasionally temperamental veteran from the New England Patriots. Alternatively, they could pursue Tyron Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowl tackle from the Dallas Cowboys, widely recognized as one of the most dominant blockers of his generation and destined for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Despite being 33 years old and contending with injuries over the past few seasons, Smith remains a formidable presence, having earned a spot on the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team. In recent years, he has missed 37 games due to various ailments, including issues with his neck, knee, and hamstring. Despite limited practice during the season, Smith consistently delivered exceptional performances on game days.
In the 2023 season, Tyron Smith showcased both health and dominance, conceding only 18 pressures and three sacks on 536 pass-blocking plays, as per Pro Football Focus. Across 13 starts, he maintained a pressure rate of 3.4 percent, ranking third-best among 83 qualified tackles (with a minimum of 200 pass-blocking snaps) and second among left tackles.
For his outstanding performance, Smith earned second-team All-Pro honors. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy expressed satisfaction with Smith’s contributions, stating, “This is clearly his best season that I’ve experienced with him since 2020. So, he felt really good about that.”
As Tyron Smith enters free agency, the Dallas Cowboys appear to have identified his potential successor in Tyler Smith, a 22-year-old who earned Pro Bowl honors and second-team All-Pro recognition this year. In the event that the Cowboys opt not to re-sign Tyron Smith and let him explore the open market, he is likely to be a highly sought-after commodity. The New York Jets are anticipated to be among the top contenders vying for his services.
