Jets' New Left Tackle Tyron Smith: 'Opportunity to Win Super Bowl'
Aaron Rodgers may be a Vice Presidential candidate this Fall. After Friday night's blockbuster signing by the New York Jets, he's already got a bodyguard.
"Of course me being with Dallas, he’s kicked our butts twice in the playoffs — so I know what Aaron's capable of," said former Dallas Cowboys' Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith minutes after agreeing to sign with the Jets in free agency. "Honestly, I’m just excited about the opportunity.”
The Jets are signing Smith to an incentive-laden, one-year contract that could be worth up to $20 million, securing them the franchise left tackle that they made a priority this offseason. New York had one of the worst pass-block win rates in 2023, and Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on the season's fourth snap.
The Jets allowed 64 sacks, fourth-most in the NFL, leading to an overhaul of the offensive line. Earlier this week they acquired their projected starting right tackle in Morgan Moses after a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.
The win-now Jets will now likely have two 33-year-old tackles protecting the 40-year-old Rodgers.
"I still feel like the Jets have an opportunity to win it," Smith said. "And anything I can do for the team to help them out, I’m going to do my best to do it. I feel like it’s going to be amazing."
Smith has battled injuries the last several years, but is coming off a healthy, All-Pro season in 2023. The question now if whether the Jets will still go after an offensive lineman with the 10th overall pick in next month's draft to give Rodgers more protection, or perhaps select a receiver to provide the quarterback another weapon.
A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Smith is one of the most dominated blockers of his era. He's missed 37 games the last four years for various ailments from his neck to knee to hamstring. In 2023 he rarely practiced, but clearly saved his best for game days.
He was healthy and elite again last season, 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.
