Jets Interested in Cowboys' Future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith?
Trent? Taliese? Or, as the New York Jets head into an offseason with a top priority of finding offensive line protection for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, what about Tyron?
Everyone agrees that the Jets - as in 2023 - are going nowhere fast in 2024 unless they can adequately protect the 40-year-old Rodgers. He was sacked on this season's fourth snap, leading to a torn Achilles and a season immediately flushed down the toilet and ultimately ending 7-10 and out of the playoffs.
As the NFL Mock Draft season heats up, the Jets - who own the 10th overall pick - are already being linked to Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. He possesses the size and skill to be the cherished "franchise left tackle" the Jets desperately need.
But what if Gang Green fills that need before April's draft?
In March's free agency they could consider talented-but-temperamental New England Patriots' veteran Trent Brown. Or they could go after one of the most dominant blockers of his generation and a player destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton: Dallas Cowboys' eight-time Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith.
Smith, a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team, is 33 and has battled injuries the past few seasons. He's missed 37 games the last four year for various ailments from his neck to knee to hamstring. This season he rarely practiced, but clearly saved his best for game days.
He was healthy and dominant again in 2023, allowing just 18 pressures and three sacks on 536 pass-blocking plays according to Pro Football Focus. In 13 starts, he allowed pressure rate of 3.4 percent, third-best among 83 qualified tackles (minimum 200 pass-blocking snaps) and second among left tackles.
His performance earned him second-team All-Pro.
"This is clearly his best season that I've experienced with him since 2020," said Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy after the season. "So, he felt really good about that."
Smith is a free agent. And the Cowboys seemingly have his heir apparent in place in Tyler Smith who, at 22, this year made the Pro Bowl and also second-team All-Pro.
Tyron Smith will be a coveted commodity if the Cowboys don't re-sign him and allow him to hit the open market. Expect the Jets to be at the top of the interested suitors.
