Jets to sign All-Pro LT Tyron Smith

The New York Jets continue to revamp their offensive line.

New York is expected to sign former Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's a one-year contract worth up to $20 million with incentives, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Smith confirmed that he's joining the Jets on Friday.

"I would've loved to have stayed home in Dallas, but as we all know, it's a business the way it works," he told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports. "I still feel like the Jets have an opportunity to win it, and anything I can do for the team to help them out, I'm going to do (my) best to do it."

One of his generation's most respected offensive tackles, Smith has eight Pro Bowl berths and five All-Pro nods on his resume, including two first-team selections. He's also a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. Staying healthy has been an issue for the 33-year-old lately, though.

Smith hasn't played a full season since 2015. After missing 33 games from 2020-22, he made 13 appearances last season and allowed just one sack in 536 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. The USC product, who was drafted ninth overall in 2011, started 161 games across 13 seasons in Dallas.

Revamping the O-line was a top priority for the Jets this year after the team struggled in pass- and run-blocking in 2023. New York allowed the fourth-most sacks last season and finished the campaign with the NFL's third-worst offensive line in pass situations, according to PFF.

The Jets entered last season with high expectations after they acquired Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster offseason trade. However, things didn't go as planned, with the star quarterback suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in his debut with the club.

"I feel like it's going to be amazing," Smith said about playing with Rodgers. "Of course, me being with Dallas, he's kicked our butts twice in the playoffs, so I know what he's capable of."

Smith is expected to protect Rodgers' blind side in 2024. Morgan Moses, whom N.Y. acquired in a recent trade from the Baltimore Ravens, will likely play right tackle for the AFC East team. Other projected starters for the Jets' new-look offensive line are right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, second-year center Joe Tippmann, and left guard John Simpson, who signed a two-year deal with the club earlier in free agency. New York's O-line will look significantly different than the unit that lined up for the team in Week 1 last season:

New York finished 2023 with a 7-10 record for a second straight season. The Jets haven't made the playoffs since the 2010 campaign, the longest drought in the NFL.

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