Chiefs Sign Former Bucs LT Donovan Smith

[Dante84]

Donovan Smith started 124 games over the past eight seasons with the #Bucs. After signing Jawaan Taylor to a big deal in March, Kansas City continues to invest in protecting Patrick Mahomes. https://t.co/CK4z151PD8

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 3, 2023

[Stryker]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Very few people here actually dislike the signing. There's a few sure but the whole mess from this afternoon has to do with differences in opinion on what exact role Smith is going to play.

I for one am very, very glad they keep addressing the OT position! The more the merrier! There is plenty of time to let the coaches see what is what and who needs to play where - I think we have an awesome coaching staff that I have faith in. It will all work out for the best. Stay positive!

[AussieChiefsFan]

I think there's almost no way they end up paying 9mil for him. Isn't there only about 4mil left in the cap? Either way I would probably wait until we actually know the details before freaking out about what this says about Taylor.

Even if Taylor ends up playing RT I don't think it's totally unreasonable to pay him top money for the position. He's been one of the best, and KC won SB LIV with their best tackle playing on the right side.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by AussieChiefsFan

I think there's almost no way they end up paying 9mil for him. Isn't there only about 4mil left in the cap? Either way I would probably wait until we actually know the details before freaking out about what this says about Taylor.

Even if Taylor ends up playing RT I don't think it's totally unreasonable to pay him top money for the position. He's been one of the best, and KC won SB LIV with their best tackle playing on the right side.

Yep. Maxx Crosby plays LDE, as does Joey Bosa (I think). I've got zero issues with them dumping that money on a proven right tackle, especially with Joe Thuney helping out whoever it is we play on the left side.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

This is what I have been saying all along. I thought if a LT fell to the early 20's and we trade up to take them, Veach would have no issue keeping Taylor at RT and starting a plug and play top rookie. I think this is the same here. If Smith returns to form at LT of previous years, let them play their natural positions. As I said in the draft thread, the pay difference between left and right tackle is narrowing with every RT contract and will continue to narrow as today's edge rushers are coming from both sides and top offenses our spreading the TE out. This is the flexibility we've been talking about and we should be better than last year upfront.

Smith is a one year player. We can't afford to sign him beyond this year, at least at the figure he'd probably expect to earn.

Again, I'm cool with him. But we'll be at our best if he's depth, not starting.

[dirk digler]

Nate Taylor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When he considered his options, Donovan Smith was most intrigued by the one that offered him a resounding opportunity.

By signing his newest contract Thursday, Smith will go from protecting the blind side of Tom Brady, the NFL’s most legendary quarterback, to the possibility of earning the job of protecting the blind side of Patrick Mahomes, the league’s reigning MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

In a transaction just days after the NFL Draft that could alter their previous moves this offseason, the Chiefs were able to persuade Smith to join the team on a one-year, $4 million deal that could increase to a maximum of $9 million through performance-based incentives, according to multiple league sources. Smith, who was pursued by multiple teams in the past few weeks, according to those sources, wanted to start the next chapter of his nine-year career in Kansas City, describing such an opportunity, of going from the Buccaneers to the Chiefs, as being comparable to switching from driving a Lamborghini (in Brady) to a Ferrari, a nod to Mahomes’ nickname from ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.

“He’d like to add a couple more rings on his fingers,” a league source said of Smith.

Mahomes, who at age 27 is the franchise’s greatest player and the league’s most talented passer, was pleased by the ingenuity of general manager Brett Veach, who has, once again, completed the team’s biggest offseason goal by putting together one of the league’s best offensive lines.

When the Chiefs hold their first voluntary practice later this month, Smith could be the team’s new left tackle, working alongside star left guard Joe Thuney, star center Creed Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith and new right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who in March signed a four-year contract worth $80 million, including $60 million guaranteed.

“I think there’ll be a degree of mixing and matching,” Veach said of the offensive line Monday, when discussing the team’s seven-player draft class. He later added: “I’m sure it’s safe to say, as we sit here today, Taylor will be able to go out there and run left tackle with the ones.”

The Chiefs, though, re-engaged in negotiation talks with Smith on Tuesday.

Before the draft, the Chiefs were eager to see if they could trade up in the first round of the draft to select a left tackle prospect, players such as Paris Johnson Jr. (who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals), Broderick Jones (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Anton Harrison (Jacksonville Jaguars). Toward the end of the first round, Veach, who is known for his aggressiveness, attempted to execute a trade to move the Chiefs up five spots. The Chiefs called the Dallas Cowboys, who had the 26th pick — but both teams realized they were interested in selecting the same prospect: defensive tackle Mazi Smith. Once that path was closed, the Chiefs stayed with the 31st pick and were content selecting defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who they hope will develop into their next foundational pass rusher.

By Tuesday, the Chiefs felt their best option at left tackle could be to acquire Smith, who has played the position his entire career. Smith understands that a successful season with the Chiefs should reestablish his value next spring, perhaps leading him to re-sign with the team.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 338 pounds, Smith, 29, became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in early March, when the Buccaneers released him for salary cap reasons. The move created $15.25 million in cap space for the Buccaneers while adding a $7.9 million cap hit in dead money, according to Over The Cap. Smith’s performance dipped last season, too, as he surrendered six sacks and led all tackles with 12 penalties that were accepted by the opposing team in 13 games. A major reason for Smith’s struggles was that he played through multiple injuries. He sustained an elbow injury in the Buccaneers’ season-opening game. Smith then missed two games toward the end of the regular season because of a foot injury before returning for the team’s postseason game in the wildcard round. Smith played most of the season through a nagging thumb injury, too.

The Chiefs expect Smith to be fully healthy this upcoming season. Prior to last season, Smith began his career by starting in 111 of 113 possible games. In 2021, Smith was a better blocker, allowing only one sack with a pass-blocking pressure rate of 3.8 percent. Although Smith, a former second-round pick in 2015, has never been a Pro Bowler, he was instrumental in helping the Buccaneers become Super Bowl LV champions in 2020, as he started 19 games, including the postseason.

If Smith returns to his usual form this season, the Chiefs are optimistic that he could be a top-10 left tackle in the league, a projected improvement from the production the team received last season from left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. While performing under the franchise tag, Brown was a Pro Bowler, compiling a pressure rate of 5.4 percent, which, according to TruMedia, was slightly below average for left tackles (minimum 200 pass-rush snaps), ranking him 22nd among 36 qualified players. But Brown surrendered just four sacks on 722 pass-blocking snaps, a league-best rate for left tackles. Though he didn’t surrender a sack in the Chiefs’ three postseason victories, he allowed an 8.3 percent pressure rate in the postseason, the highest of any left tackle.

Nate Tice, a former NFL offense quality control assistant and former college quarterback, said in March on “The Athletic Football Show” podcast that the Chiefs should sign Smith at a lower cost than Brown (who signed a four-year, $64 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals), while receiving similar production.

“(He’s) the same tier of player,” Tice said of Smith when comparing his skills and playing style to Brown. “That would make a lot of sense, and then they’re saving money to make other moves.”

If the Chiefs hadn’t signed Smith, their plan was to have Taylor, a four-year veteran at age 25, play the left tackle position, which he had never done as a member of the Jaguars.

“He’s a guy that we liked from his days in college at Florida,” Veach said of Taylor last month in his annual pre-draft news conference. “He’s a really, really athletic player. He’s long, has quick feet and is a really, really efficient pass protector. It wasn’t a secret that once free agency started, a tackle was at the top of that list.

“He certainly wants the opportunity to play left. But if we were to draft a left tackle, we know what Jawaan’s tape looks like at right tackle, so we were excited to get him.”

On the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, Taylor embraced the Chiefs’ sales pitch and contract offer because Veach and coach Andy Reid were willing to present to him an opportunity to earn a significant raise while playing with an increased responsibility on the field. Taylor explained that one of the Chiefs’ many advantages was the success Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck had the past two seasons in further developing Brown, who had spent most of his first three years in the league with the Baltimore Ravens as a right tackle.

Even with the addition of Smith, the Chiefs expressed to Taylor that he would have the chance in training camp and the preseason to earn the left tackle role.

“I feel like I can go out and make the switch pretty seamless,” Taylor said in March during his introductory news conference. “But, you know, at the end of the day, if they need me to switch over and play other positions, I’m open to doing it. I’m just here to try to help this team win championships.”

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 312 pounds, Taylor had a pressure rate allowed of just 2.5 percent in 17 games last season, the third lowest among qualified tackles. If Taylor begins the season as the right tackle, he will replace Andrew Wylie, who in free agency signed a three-year contract worth a maximum of $24 million with Washington Commanders.

No matter which position he plays, Taylor will have to adjust his blocking to Mahomes’ playing style, which features elongated passing downs, creative movement within the pocket and improvisation when out of the pocket to create completions.

“If we had another left tackle, (Taylor) can play right side, so he gives you flexibility,” Reid said of Taylor last month when the Chiefs started their offseason program. “He’s smart. He can probably play center if we had to. He’s a pretty talented kid.”

The Chiefs, within the past week, have created intriguing battles at both tackle positions. Smith, for the first time in his career, could start the season as a backup behind Taylor. But another possibility is that Reid could believe in camp that the Chiefs’ best offensive line is with Smith at left tackle and Taylor at right tackle.

Veach knows one of his top goals every offseason — with Mahomes entering just the second season of his 10-year contract — is to have the offensive line be one of the strongest areas of the roster to ensure the Chiefs’ passing attack remains potent. With Veach executing such a plan this year, Reid’s scheme, Mahomes’ rare passing ability and the offensive line should help elevate receivers such as Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore.

“It seems like they figured out as long as you protect Mahomes, nothing else matters,” an anonymous team executive told The Athletic in March of the Chiefs’ offseason moves. “It is probably true.”

Earlier this week, following the draft, the projected starter at right tackle was Lucas Niang, a third-round pick in 2020 who started nine games in 2021 before suffering a torn left patellar tendon in January 2022. Based on his experience, Niang was projected ahead of Wanya Morris, a rookie the Chiefs traded up three spots to select in the third round of the draft.

In camp, Niang and Morris are expected to compete for the primary backup role if Taylor is the right tackle. But if Taylor is the starting left tackle, with Smith behind him as the backup, the battle between Niang and Morris would be for the final starting spot.

“I think we’ll have good competition between Niang and Wanya,” Veach said Monday. “I think (second-year lineman Darian) Kinnard has some flexibility, too. I think Kinnard will go back and forth to tackle and guard. I think Wanya has some tackle-guard flex. I think you’ll see Coach Heck do a great job of mixing and matching.

“When we get to training camp, we’ll just let the competition speak for itself.”

[dirk digler]

Nate Taylor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When he considered his options, Donovan Smith was most intrigued by the one that offered him a resounding opportunity.

By signing his newest contract Thursday, Smith will go from protecting the blind side of Tom Brady, the NFL’s most legendary quarterback, to the possibility of earning the job of protecting the blind side of Patrick Mahomes, the league’s reigning MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

In a transaction just days after the NFL Draft that could alter their previous moves this offseason, the Chiefs were able to persuade Smith to join the team on a one-year, $4 million deal that could increase to a maximum of $9 million through performance-based incentives, according to multiple league sources. Smith, who was pursued by multiple teams in the past few weeks, according to those sources, wanted to start the next chapter of his nine-year career in Kansas City, describing such an opportunity, of going from the Buccaneers to the Chiefs, as being comparable to switching from driving a Lamborghini (in Brady) to a Ferrari, a nod to Mahomes’ nickname from ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.

“He’d like to add a couple more rings on his fingers,” a league source said of Smith.

Mahomes, who at age 27 is the franchise’s greatest player and the league’s most talented passer, was pleased by the ingenuity of general manager Brett Veach, who has, once again, completed the team’s biggest offseason goal by putting together one of the league’s best offensive lines.

When the Chiefs hold their first voluntary practice later this month, Smith could be the team’s new left tackle, working alongside star left guard Joe Thuney, star center Creed Humphrey, right guard Trey Smith and new right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who in March signed a four-year contract worth $80 million, including $60 million guaranteed.

“I think there’ll be a degree of mixing and matching,” Veach said of the offensive line Monday, when discussing the team’s seven-player draft class. He later added: “I’m sure it’s safe to say, as we sit here today, Taylor will be able to go out there and run left tackle with the ones.”

The Chiefs, though, re-engaged in negotiation talks with Smith on Tuesday.

Before the draft, the Chiefs were eager to see if they could trade up in the first round of the draft to select a left tackle prospect, players such as Paris Johnson Jr. (who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals), Broderick Jones (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Anton Harrison (Jacksonville Jaguars). Toward the end of the first round, Veach, who is known for his aggressiveness, attempted to execute a trade to move the Chiefs up five spots. The Chiefs called the Dallas Cowboys, who had the 26th pick — but both teams realized they were interested in selecting the same prospect: defensive tackle Mazi Smith. Once that path was closed, the Chiefs stayed with the 31st pick and were content selecting defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who they hope will develop into their next foundational pass rusher.

By Tuesday, the Chiefs felt their best option at left tackle could be to acquire Smith, who has played the position his entire career. Smith understands that a successful season with the Chiefs should reestablish his value next spring, perhaps leading him to re-sign with the team.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 338 pounds, Smith, 29, became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in early March, when the Buccaneers released him for salary cap reasons. The move created $15.25 million in cap space for the Buccaneers while adding a $7.9 million cap hit in dead money, according to Over The Cap. Smith’s performance dipped last season, too, as he surrendered six sacks and led all tackles with 12 penalties that were accepted by the opposing team in 13 games. A major reason for Smith’s struggles was that he played through multiple injuries. He sustained an elbow injury in the Buccaneers’ season-opening game. Smith then missed two games toward the end of the regular season because of a foot injury before returning for the team’s postseason game in the wildcard round. Smith played most of the season through a nagging thumb injury, too.

The Chiefs expect Smith to be fully healthy this upcoming season. Prior to last season, Smith began his career by starting in 111 of 113 possible games. In 2021, Smith was a better blocker, allowing only one sack with a pass-blocking pressure rate of 3.8 percent. Although Smith, a former second-round pick in 2015, has never been a Pro Bowler, he was instrumental in helping the Buccaneers become Super Bowl LV champions in 2020, as he started 19 games, including the postseason.

If Smith returns to his usual form this season, the Chiefs are optimistic that he could be a top-10 left tackle in the league, a projected improvement from the production the team received last season from left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. While performing under the franchise tag, Brown was a Pro Bowler, compiling a pressure rate of 5.4 percent, which, according to TruMedia, was slightly below average for left tackles (minimum 200 pass-rush snaps), ranking him 22nd among 36 qualified players. But Brown surrendered just four sacks on 722 pass-blocking snaps, a league-best rate for left tackles. Though he didn’t surrender a sack in the Chiefs’ three postseason victories, he allowed an 8.3 percent pressure rate in the postseason, the highest of any left tackle.

Nate Tice, a former NFL offense quality control assistant and former college quarterback, said in March on “The Athletic Football Show” podcast that the Chiefs should sign Smith at a lower cost than Brown (who signed a four-year, $64 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals), while receiving similar production.

“(He’s) the same tier of player,” Tice said of Smith when comparing his skills and playing style to Brown. “That would make a lot of sense, and then they’re saving money to make other moves.”

If the Chiefs hadn’t signed Smith, their plan was to have Taylor, a four-year veteran at age 25, play the left tackle position, which he had never done as a member of the Jaguars.

“He’s a guy that we liked from his days in college at Florida,” Veach said of Taylor last month in his annual pre-draft news conference. “He’s a really, really athletic player. He’s long, has quick feet and is a really, really efficient pass protector. It wasn’t a secret that once free agency started, a tackle was at the top of that list.

“He certainly wants the opportunity to play left. But if we were to draft a left tackle, we know what Jawaan’s tape looks like at right tackle, so we were excited to get him.”

On the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, Taylor embraced the Chiefs’ sales pitch and contract offer because Veach and coach Andy Reid were willing to present to him an opportunity to earn a significant raise while playing with an increased responsibility on the field. Taylor explained that one of the Chiefs’ many advantages was the success Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck had the past two seasons in further developing Brown, who had spent most of his first three years in the league with the Baltimore Ravens as a right tackle.

Even with the addition of Smith, the Chiefs expressed to Taylor that he would have the chance in training camp and the preseason to earn the left tackle role.

“I feel like I can go out and make the switch pretty seamless,” Taylor said in March during his introductory news conference. “But, you know, at the end of the day, if they need me to switch over and play other positions, I’m open to doing it. I’m just here to try to help this team win championships.”

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 312 pounds, Taylor had a pressure rate allowed of just 2.5 percent in 17 games last season, the third lowest among qualified tackles. If Taylor begins the season as the right tackle, he will replace Andrew Wylie, who in free agency signed a three-year contract worth a maximum of $24 million with Washington Commanders.

No matter which position he plays, Taylor will have to adjust his blocking to Mahomes’ playing style, which features elongated passing downs, creative movement within the pocket and improvisation when out of the pocket to create completions.

“If we had another left tackle, (Taylor) can play right side, so he gives you flexibility,” Reid said of Taylor last month when the Chiefs started their offseason program. “He’s smart. He can probably play center if we had to. He’s a pretty talented kid.”

The Chiefs, within the past week, have created intriguing battles at both tackle positions. Smith, for the first time in his career, could start the season as a backup behind Taylor. But another possibility is that Reid could believe in camp that the Chiefs’ best offensive line is with Smith at left tackle and Taylor at right tackle.

Veach knows one of his top goals every offseason — with Mahomes entering just the second season of his 10-year contract — is to have the offensive line be one of the strongest areas of the roster to ensure the Chiefs’ passing attack remains potent. With Veach executing such a plan this year, Reid’s scheme, Mahomes’ rare passing ability and the offensive line should help elevate receivers such as Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore.

“It seems like they figured out as long as you protect Mahomes, nothing else matters,” an anonymous team executive told The Athletic in March of the Chiefs’ offseason moves. “It is probably true.”

Earlier this week, following the draft, the projected starter at right tackle was Lucas Niang, a third-round pick in 2020 who started nine games in 2021 before suffering a torn left patellar tendon in January 2022. Based on his experience, Niang was projected ahead of Wanya Morris, a rookie the Chiefs traded up three spots to select in the third round of the draft.

In camp, Niang and Morris are expected to compete for the primary backup role if Taylor is the right tackle. But if Taylor is the starting left tackle, with Smith behind him as the backup, the battle between Niang and Morris would be for the final starting spot.

“I think we’ll have good competition between Niang and Wanya,” Veach said Monday. “I think (second-year lineman Darian) Kinnard has some flexibility, too. I think Kinnard will go back and forth to tackle and guard. I think Wanya has some tackle-guard flex. I think you’ll see Coach Heck do a great job of mixing and matching.

“When we get to training camp, we’ll just let the competition speak for itself.”

[BryanBusby]

This line has the potential to be Andy's best OL assembled if the optimism pans out at the tackle positions.

[Iconic]

Before the draft, the Chiefs were eager to see if they could trade up in the first round of the draft to select a left tackle prospect, players such as Paris Johnson Jr. (who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals), Broderick Jones (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Anton Harrison (Jacksonville Jaguars). Toward the end of the first round, Veach, who is known for his aggressiveness, attempted to execute a trade to move the Chiefs up five spots. The Chiefs called the Dallas Cowboys, who had the 26th pick — but both teams realized they were interested in selecting the same prospect: defensive tackle Mazi Smith. Once that path was closed, the Chiefs stayed with the 31st pick and were content selecting defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who they hope will develop into their next foundational pass rusher.

does taylor read the shit he types lmao?

[Mecca]

Nate Taylor is never gonna let go that he knows nothing about the draft but he was magically correct in his projection...

It's getting old Nate, stop.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Nate Taylor

Say what now?

By signing his newest contract Thursday, Smith will go from protecting the blind side of Tom Brady, the NFL’s most legendary quarterback, to the possibility of earning the job of protecting the blind side of Patrick Mahomes, the league’s reigning MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

There’s two key words in that sentence. Possibility and earning. Doesn’t sound to me like he’s been guaranteed shit.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Smith is a one year player. We can't afford to sign him beyond this year, at least at the figure he'd probably expect to earn.

Again, I'm cool with him. But we'll be at our best if he's depth, not starting.

Unless he is really healty again, and his other personal issues are out of they way. He was damn good before last year...

[Coogs]

This doesn't seem like rocket science to me. We signed a LT and a RT. For starters, put the LT at LT and the RT at RT and see what it looks like.

Last season the RT spot was a major issue. The RT spot would appear to be solved with the upgrade from Wylie to Taylor.

Last season the LT spot was flirting hard with being a major issue. The question would be if Smith, at worst, could not out perform OBJ on that side.

If not, then you have a couple of options.

Moore played LT at Tennesssee. Maybe consider giving him a shot at LT to see where he is at, and keep that RT spot locked down with Taylor.

If not, then move Taylor to LT and hope we can lock down at least one side.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

Unless he is really healty again, and his other personal issues are out of they way. He was damn good before last year...

DUde. We're paying Taylor how much money?

We're paying Thuney how much money?

You can't just go whole hog like that on one position group.

The only reason why Smith at LT kind of works is because we're saying it doesn't matter how much you pay your RT as long as your LT is cheap. When he becomes not cheap, then you have some big problems.

[O.city]

Kinda reads like insurance if Taylor doesn't transition to the LT spot like they hope? I dunno, should be fine either way

[JPH83]

There is a worst-case scenario where we are worse at OT than last year and paying more, I just don't think it's THAT likely. In that case it would probably mean Taylor is our LT but is taking time to transition and is worse than OBJ this year (OBJ is no way near as bad as some suggest) and Niang and Morris really are no better than Wylie. But man, I've got to think one of Niang or Morris is a tick up from Wylie, and even if Taylor is a step back next year it might be a case of one step back, two forwards the following year.

Also, if Niang and Morris really are terrible then Taylor switches over and Smith comes in at LT. So that's probably the worst-case scenario, and in which case our RT is immediately significantly better in pass-pro, and our LT is probably as good as Wylie was just on the other side. Given we managed to protect Wylie and win a SB with that talent level, it's probably OK.

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

DUde. We're paying Taylor how much money?

We're paying Thuney how much money?

You can't just go whole hog like that on one position group.

The only reason why Smith at LT kind of works is because we're saying it doesn't matter how much you pay your RT as long as your LT is cheap. When he becomes not cheap, then you have some big problems.

Smith does need to be a one-year rental I think, for cap reasons. But I think he's going to be a very good one-year rental. Assuming he reverts to 2021 form, we can't afford to sign him long term. Next year, Taylor will have to move over and Morris takes over at RT. If Morris is a bust, then we will draft someone or find someone cheap like Wylie was to play RT.

For this year though, the payoff is pretty big. Again, assuming we get the 2021 version, we may have the best line in the NFL.