The Kansas City Chiefs made the somewhat surprising choice not to franchise tag left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. an offseason ago.
This made it possible for him to become a free agent and join with another team, forcing the team to change course. Donovan Smith and Wanya Morris, two acquisitions, helped to defuse the situation, but there are still more unanswered questions than answers this summer.
Morris might not have performed well enough as a rookie to secure the starting position entirely in 2024–25, and Smith is back available. Is there another Smith that could work? At least one writer and outlet think so.
Jared Dubin acted as the AFC’s free agency matchmaker for CBS Sports. Tyron Smith, a veteran left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, was his choice when the Chiefs came around.
This is the logic behind it: I immediately began writing this one in pen after hearing rumors that Smith would not be going back to Dallas. It’s just too logical that he should end up in Washington, D.C.
if that is the situation. The Chiefs will be able to get a top-tier tackle to cover Patrick Mahomes’ blind side while he chases the coveted Super Bowl ring.
Smith, 33, has to consider the very real idea of leaving the NFL city that has always been his home game. During his 13 years with Dallas, the former first-round pick definitely lived up to his draft position, winning eight Pro Bowls and being selected twice for the All-Pro first team. He was a second-team All-Pro in the previous campaign.
The issues with Smith are not performance but rather health and cost. He averaged just under eight starts since 2020, having started no fewer than 13 games in each of his first nine seasons.
He has been hampered by ailments to his neck, ankle, knee, and hamstrings as he has gotten closer to and past the age of thirty.
Another point of contention is the contract’s value; Pro Football Focus estimates a $10 million one-year deal, while Spotrac determines Smith’s market value at $7.4 million.
Smith would be a very wise investment if the money is appropriate and he can persevere through a demanding season – both significant “if” statements.
He was the greatest pass blocker among 2023–24 tackles who played at least 20% of the possible reps, and he finished fourth in PFF composite grade. Smith is still a top-tier tackle and ought to have success in his next campaign.
At this point, Morris is expected to start at left tackle assuming Donovan Smith is out of the picture. When Smith was injured and he took over for him for five games, he showed promise, but he also had a lot of poor points.
If nothing else, it makes perfect sense to bring in a reliable veteran as competition. The question of whether Tyron Smith is more than just competition arises in that case. Most likely, the answer is yes.
Throughout his remarkable career, Smith has accomplished one thing: winning a title. The Chiefs are the only NFL team that has shown themselves to be a greater winner lately.
Would that serve as a sufficient sweetener? It certainly wouldn’t hurt if either party was interested in the other. It doesn’t get much better than letting Smith defend Patrick Mahomes’s blindside and go for his first Super Bowl ring, in Dubin’s matchmaker’s opinion.
