Chiefs Sign Former Bucs LT Donovan Smith
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Donovan Smith started 124 games over the past eight seasons with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bucs</a>. After signing Jawaan Taylor to a big deal in March, Kansas City continues to invest in protecting Patrick Mahomes. <a href="https://t.co/CK4z151PD8">https://t.co/CK4z151PD8</a></p>&mdash; Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1653900420475920384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wow, that was unexpected.

Interesting

Chiefs are not ****ing around with the OLine anymore.

Not saying he's great, but he's serviceable.

get out of jail free card if RT options shit down their pants in the preseason

Soooooo.....LT or RT?

Backup LT competing at RT is my guess.

need depth on that left side.




Vrach likes competition for positions.

"Worth up to $9M"

Interdasting.

Details at 1:26

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Gat Dam Veech I love thee.

He's historically been at LT for the Buccaneers, and my impression from a few games is that he provides about 50 percent of Orlando Brown's pass blocking. But I'm sure the Chiefs will coach him up to greatness.

The Chiefs don't have anybody that you'd feel comfortable with at LT if Taylor went down.

When you look at it that way, makes sense.

Donovan Smith’s 2022 PFF grade: 58
Jawaan Taylor’s 2022 PFF grade: 58

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Down vote the post above me.

Thx

Whoa.. I guess our draft tackle is a project?

Good thing one of those guys is likely a backup LT, and the other's low grade is due to run blocking.

God damn you're a terrible troll.

Yea, that was always the case.

Just as the prophet UChieffyBugger predicted.

Peliserro seems to think he’s starting at LT this year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Donovan Smith has played his entire career at left tackle. Jawaan Taylor has played almost exclusively right tackle. If all goes well, that’s how the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> will line up in front of reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes after Smith agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million. <a href="https://t.co/ys6GDhAZvK">pic.twitter.com/ys6GDhAZvK</a></p>&mdash; Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1653902517741158446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Isn’t that a lot to invest in a backup LT?

Broncos 2022 Record Against the Chiefs: 0-2
Broncos 2021 Record Against the Chiefs: 0-2
Broncos 2020 Record Against the Chiefs: 0-2
Broncos 2019 Record Against the Chiefs: 0-2
Broncos 2018 Record Against the Chiefs: 0-2
Broncos 2017 Record Against the Chiefs: 0-2
Broncos 2016 Record Against the Chiefs: 0-2

Yeah I’d imagine he’s the starting LT

Eh I dunno actually. “Up to 9 mil” could be 2.5 mil or 1 mil

Seems like an insurance move

Niang or Tega Wanogho is the odd man out

"Up to"

Yup.

Yeah Niang is done here

Yea it’s not remotely a $9MM deal I’m certain.

Sure but you figure it’s no less than 5mm guaranteed with a lot based on playing time?

They’ll plug him in at RT

Not buying it, but if that really is the case, we still only have 1 T spot to be concerned with, and that's always been the case.

Smith would be getting plenty of help while Taylor can be lined up on an island at RT.

super penalty happy, but honestly that's a solid pick up. he's a much better pass blocker than run blocker.

there's no way he's our starting lt though. either depth or competing at rt.

Very solid move considering what's out there. Provides more time for the youngsters to develop and prove themselves

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Chiefs are projecting Donovan Smith, who is considered fully healthy, to be a starter next season.<br><br>At this point, both options are available to the Chiefs. Smith could start at LT with Jawaan Taylor at RT — or vice versa.</p>&mdash; Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByNateTaylor/status/1653905374364172296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gonna have to go through that whole acclimation phase for Mahomes again, like when OBJ took over at LT.

Niang's had his turn. This camp better be stellar or he's heading to Canada. Or his couch.

I wish we had just kept Orlando Brown

I think its Winebago who isnt developing. Niang has started at times when healthy.

The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl with starting tackles that were both among league leaders in pressures given up by an OT.

Yea, there's also that.

Andy doesn’t shuffle the ol

So who starts the year will play all year

He'll shuffle it during OTAs and the start of camp though.

I smell a jones extension coming

We don’t have enough with the cap right now.

We have 3.8 mil in cap space. That’s including the Jet and money for the draft picks

There’s no “get the young tackles ready and ease them in” is what I’m saying

Who starts the year will finish unless injured

He’s the LT

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My understanding is the Chiefs see Donovan Smith as a starter who has significant experience.<br><br>Smith has started 124 games and battled through injuries last year. The move also keeps Jawaan Taylor at his natural position on the right side</p>&mdash; Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattVerderame/status/1653903772513361921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I still see Taylor getting the first reps at LT during OTAs. Smith is here as a backup plan in case it doesn’t work out. Then they can move Taylor back to RT and leave Smith at LT.

Agreed.

He's a good player and I know for a fact he dealt with some off the field stuff last season that was not good.

If it is Taylor at RT, that's a shit ton of money for that spot. Though, I guess it's offset by the LT making nothing.

Mitchell is certainly not the LTOTF, though, so maybe this buys us another year before addressing that position.

That’s a lot to pay Taylor to play rt I’d think?

I really don’t care if they go Taylor/Niang or Smith/Taylor. Ether or the OL room i stacked.

And it gives Wanya Morris, a perfect physical tackle for this offense, time to improve his hands and technique.

Win/win

Doesn't really matter as long as your LT is making peanuts.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wednesday night food for thought<br><br>Jawaan Taylor NFL snaps at LT: 18<br>Jawaan Taylor NFL snaps at RT: 4,282<br><br>Donovan Smith NFL snaps at LT: 8,473<br>Donovan Smith NFL snaps at RT: 0 <a href="https://t.co/Y1uZk82u0f">https://t.co/Y1uZk82u0f</a></p>&mdash; Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgsween/status/1653908661058584577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

True

But you also just used a 3rd round pick on a rt?

He was having his best season on 2021, playing at a high level.

This move makes a lot of sense assuming the price is right. Going to need to get the Jones extension done in order to pay for him and the new draft picks.

Exactly.

If the chiefs pay all that money to Taylor and stick him at RT while plugging Smith at LT, they're basically telling you that they value both spots equally.

Morris has played LT and RT, and he can probably also play G.

They're giving themselves options and flexibility.

Starting LT wtf? This dude sucks

With Mahomes it truly doesn’t matter. RT and LT are the same to him

So we have all these options and not a LT

yeah i think smith is a 'break glass in case of' for taylor just absolutely bombing the switch at otas - which is super unlikely.

bet smith ends up starting at rt, with morris getting time to develop.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">�� it’s a low base and the move is to being in a competent LT floor and competition to push Taylor in camp.<br><br>RT is still the same two - Niang and Morris - competing but now you have an actual backup LT instead of forcing a young guy to be the swing T.</p>&mdash; Matt Lane (@Matty_KCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Matty_KCSN/status/1653909906221588483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yup you got it :rolleyes:

The Chiefs are better and more experienced at T with this move. Why exactly are you trying to make this a bad thing?

This makes sense

I mean....a young guy at Swing is pretty much ideal. "Forcing" a young guy to be swing?

VEACH

https://wompampsupport.azureedge.net...F659%2F18a.jpg

He's no McGlinchey, but he will do.

Wonder if it’s one of those Juju contracts with some unlikely to be earned bonuses that come off of next years cap when he hits them.

I see what you mean, but I think maybe they're grooming Morris exclusively at RT and wanting him focusing on that rather than learning to be a swing.

As for Niang... I think he's the big loser in all of this.

Hope you are right. Vaguely remember Smith got lots of holding calls and Brady hit last season.

Good thing Mahome is just a little more mobile than the corpse of Tom Brady.

When you no longer get the non-calls........

A lot can change in a few years, but figured this was worth a watch.

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This makes no sense.

In what world do you sign a tackle at 18mm/yr and then feel like you need to bring in other people to push him?

The one thing I'd say is the Smith deal is a 1yr contract. Chiefs may have just concluded that having that guy for a single season and being able to insert him at LT is good value. The plan may well be to ultimately move Taylor to LT in 2024 and then have Niang/Morris battle it out.

Hopefully Smith proves it on his 1yr prove-it deal.

Don't get this one. This dude ****ing sucks. A big part of why the Bucs offense stagnated so badly in 2022.

And now for the negatives....


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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2017: 7 sacks, 42 pressures, 9 penalties<br>2016: 3 sacks, 57 pressures, 13 penalties<br>2015: 4 sacks, 54 pressures, 11 penalties</p>&mdash; Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) <a href="https://twitter.com/Farzin21/status/1653905779185811457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

If he can get back to his old form, which we should be able to identify in the offseason, then this could be a great value pickup. If he sucks, cut his ass.

From 2021:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Donovan Smith: 84.7 Pass-Blocking Grade last season<br><br>That was 2nd in the NFL among OT (min. 1000 snaps) <a href="https://t.co/zdPjy50q5W">pic.twitter.com/zdPjy50q5W</a></p>&mdash; PFF TB Buccaneers (@PFF_Buccaneers) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_Buccaneers/status/1506645370507509762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Veach is such a wizard baller

This signing makes so much sense, it hedges many bets