After a busy start to the Offseason, the New York Jets have made one of the smartest moves of free agency by signing Tyron Smith, the veteran offensive tackle. New York Jets have made a smart move by signing Tyron Smith, an 8-time Pro Bowler, according to Bleacher Report's Maurice Moton.
Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton shared the smartest offseason move for all 32 NFL teams on Thursday, March 21. For the Jets, Moton mentioned what made the Jets signing the former All-Pro tackle such a smart move for the franchise.
Moton said that Smith could hold the left tackle position while the Jets develop a top prospect at the position. He also mentioned that if Smith misses time, the Jets can give playing experience to a rookie. Smith will be a good investment in keeping Rodgers upright as long as he stays healthy.
Investing in a star left tackle will ideally help keep the 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers on his feet for the 2024 season as he continues to recover from a torn achilles.
Tyron Smith Is a Hall of Fame Tackle
Smith has lived up to his high expectations over a decade-long career. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and has been a mainstay on the team's offensive line.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Smith with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He became a mainstay on the team’s offensive line, starting at least 13 games every year for the first nine seasons.
Hamstring, neck, and ankle injuries affected Smith’s ability to stay on the field over the last few seasons, but he returned to form in 2023, playing in 13 games and receiving second-team All-Pro honors.
The 33-year-old left tackle has achieved numerous accolades during his time in Dallas, including two first-team All-Pro selections, three second-team selections, eight Pro Bowl appearances, and a selection onto the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Now, Smith will be hoping to make a mark with the Jets before aiming for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A significantly improved Jets Offensive Line
The Jets have reinforced the offensive line after past issues to see what their offense can achieve in 2024.
In addition to signing Smith, the Jets traded draft picks to the Baltimore Ravens to reunite with veteran right tackle Morgan Moses. The 33-year-old previously played with the Jets in 2021 before spending the last two seasons in Baltimore.
The Jets also signed free agent offensive guard John Simpson to a two-year, $12 million deal. Both offensive linemen previously played together during the last two seasons with the Ravens.
These moves involving Smith, Moses, and Simpson could completely overhaul the struggling Jets offensive line, but it's possible that they have more plans. General manager Joe Douglas might also seek long-term help at the position in the 2024 NFL Draft, especially in the first round with a prospect like Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga or Georgia’s Amarius Mims.
However, New York's offensive line appears noticeably changed from how it looked just a few weeks ago.
