‘Star’ Power: Patriots Interested in Cowboys All-Pro Left Tackle?
FOXBORO — The New England Patriots may be looking to add a bit of “Star” power to their long-suffering offensive line for the upcoming season.
Having declined their contract option on left tackle Trent Brown, along with facing an uncertain future for free-agent right tackle Mike Onwenu, the Pats will assuredly be in the market for some help at the position, both via free agency and the NFL Draft.
In fact, New England (per a Sunday morning MassLive report) may have already set its sights on the top free agent tackle on the market: Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith.
As reported by Mike Fisher of CowboysSI, Smith is not expected to return to Dallas for 2024, likely ending a 13-year relationship which has existed since the talented left tackle’s career inception. Accordingly, the door may be open for the Patriots to court the 6-5, 320-pound tackle when the league’s legal tampering period begins on March 11.
Cred: Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini
“The Patriots would like to find a starting-caliber tackle in free agency,” wrote MassLive’s Mark Daniels. “One name to watch is Tyron Smith, who earned second team All-Pro honors with the Cowboys last season. The 33-year-old would provide a short-term solution at left tackle and the Patriots are expected to pursue Smith when free agency opens.”
Since being drafted with the No. 9 overall pick by the Cowboys in 2011, Smith has forged a career which some believe may arguably land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Regardless, his prowess as a pro-level left tackle cannot be denied. In his 13 seasons with Dallas, Smith started in each of the 161 regular season games he played. The USC product earned five All-Pro selections (two of which were first team nods,) eight Pro Bowl elections and was chosen as a member of the 2010’s All-Decade team. His ability to ward off defenders in both pass protection and run blocking has made him a mainstay along Dallas’ often highly-touted offensive line.
“If you went into a computer lab and tried to create the perfect prototype tackle, it would be him,” said NFL Analyst Ross Tucker of Smith in 2016. “Smith does things to guys—toys with them, humbles them—that you honestly shouldn't be able to do to people in the NFL.”
While Smith’s days atop the NFL’s list of elite tackles may have passed, he is still capable of being a top quality starter. Last season, Smith aligned on 847 snaps, allowing only one sack, while being credited with just three penalties. Overall, Smith was graded 83.8 by Pro Football Focus.
Still, Smith would not arrive in Foxboro without his share of “caveat emptor” line items on his resume. Once known as one of the NFL’s most durable and reliable linemen, his ability to remind on the field has become compromised in recent seasons. Since 2020, Smith has only suited up for 30 of a possible 67 regular season games — with ankle, hamstring and back injuries playing a role. Smith missed 13 games in 2022 after suffering an avulsion fracture in his left knee. Fortunately for both Smith and his suitors, he played 13 games for the Cowboys in 2023, his highest total since 2019.
If healthy, Smith is seemingly worth the substantial investment. For new offensive line coach Scott Peters, the task of repairing a line which ranked in the lower half of the league in several key metrics will be daunting. Although the Pats will wisely remain active in scouting a richly-talented draft class, New England may be best served to consider high-level veteran such as the Cowboys legend to secure the line — especially if they use the No. 3 overall selection to procure their future franchise quarterback.
