Cowboys’ Tyron Smith to Free Agency; Jets Interest?

Could the New York Jets left tackle problems be solved with the former All-Pro from the Dallas Cowboys?

The Tyron Smith era with the Dallas Cowboys is coming to a close. 

Ian Rappaport of NFL Network reported Saturday that the eight-time Pro Bowl tackle will not re-sign with the Cowboys this offseason after 13 seasons in Texas and two first-team All-Pro nods. 

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The latest announcement comes to the joy of several organizations in desperate need of offensive line help. 

One of those organizations is the New York Jets. 

When it comes to the free agent market, Smith will easily be the top tackle available on the open market. He has graded among the best tackles of his era and is a sure-fire candidate to eventually be named to the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame. In that sense, the Jets should be a team that will look to add the star to their offensive line. 

In 2023, New York went through four different left tackles due to injury and ineffective play. The changes were only emphasized by the offensive line going through 13 different players and different combinations throughout the season.

That's where Smith's pending free agency could complicate matters. 

If New York was looking for a tackle to stay healthy for a full 17 games, the former Cowboy may not be the player they want. Smith hasn't played over 13 games in a single season since 2019 with concerns of his knee, back, and ankle overtaking his dominant play. 

Injury concerns are a central theme to almost every free-agent tackle available, though. Especially when you compare Smith's play to Green Bay Packers offensive lineman David Bahktiari. 

Bahktiari is expected to be released by the Packers this offseason due to his large cap hit and injury concerns which means the Jets could have their pick of two players past their prime but could solve their tackle concerns this offseason. 

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Should it come down to Bahktiari and Smith, the former's relationship with Jets' star quarterback Aaron Rodgers might be the bigger selling point than Smith's history with the Cowboys. 

We still have a couple of weeks to go before the start of Free Agency, but the New York Jets will have plenty of time to negotiate with some of the top players at major positions of need this offseason. 

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