Whatever happens with the Patriots at quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end, the positions that have received a lot of attention as weaknesses the team needs to fill, it will all be for naught if the Patriots can’t restore their offensive line, which suffered mightily last season. However, in a hint that the organization is serious about competing next season, New England is reportedly interested in one of the oldest veterans near the top of the free agent market: 33-year-old Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith.
Smith has been with the Cowboys since his 2011 draft, and he has been named to eight Pro Bowls in 13 NFL seasons. In 2014, he set a record by signing an eight-year, $98 million contract with Dallas. However, Smith’s contract is up, and the Cowboys are reportedly letting him depart.
That’s where the Patriots step in. They do need a quarterback, for sure. However, they also require someone who can adequately safeguard the quarterback.
According to Marc Daniels and Karen Guregian of MassLive, the Patriots want to pursue Smith.
“The Patriots would like to find a starting-caliber tackle in free agency,” the source said. “One name to keep an eye on is Tyron Smith, who won second-team All-Pro honours with the Cowboys last season. The 33-year-old would give a short-term option at left tackle, and the Patriots are anticipated to pursue Smith when free agency begins.
Patriots’ Offensive Line Was terrible in 2023.
This would be a truly transformative signing for the Patriots, albeit a risky one. Smith is not getting younger, and he is not getting healthier. He was limited to four games in 2022 due to a neck ailment, played 13 games last season, and has missed 37 games in the previous four years.
When Smith is on the field, however, he remains one of the greatest left tackles in the league. Last year, he had an 83.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking fourth among 81 tackles in the NFL. That would be a significant upgrade for an offensive line that was ranked 29th in the NFL by PFF last season with a pass-blocking grade of 50.3.
It may also be a big thing for the Patriots in terms of signing a free agent quarterback. Their desire in Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers is unlikely to be realized, but if they do pursue a free agent like Russell Wilson or Kirk Cousins, having Smith covering the blind side goes a long way toward making those quarterbacks feel comfortable signing.
If they take a rookie with the third pick and put him on the field straight away, Smith’s position up front would help to protect him.
Tyron Smith is the ideal short-term solution.
Smith would be a short-term option at left tackle, and in a draft rife with players capable of playing the position, the Patriots might aim to add a longer-term solution to develop as Smith takes over for a year or two. Smith is said to desire to win the Super Bowl, which might end the Patriots’ hopes. However, they are plainly eager to sell themselves to free agents.
The Patriots have more than $100 million in cap space to spend, and Smith is unlikely to use up much of it.
At Spotrac, Smith is expected to sign a one-year contract worth $7.5 million. According to PFF, Smith is the best tackle in 2017 free-agent class and deserves a one-year, $10 million contract.
PFF wrote about Smith: “When Tyron Smith is healthy, he is an impassable brick wall as a blindside protector, regardless of the matchup. Smith played practically the length of his eight-year agreement inked in 2014, something we will probably never see again, and he produced significant surplus value to Dallas despite the time he missed here and there.
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