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

[The Franchise]

If their plan this entire time was to start Smith at LT and Taylor at RT...then Smith would have been signed before the draft.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

If their plan this entire time was to start Smith at LT and Taylor at RT...then Smith would have been signed before the draft.

There's that logic thing again...

[The Franchise]

Does that mean that I don't think Smith could beat out Taylor and Taylor could move to RT? No, I don't.

They could get into OTAs and Taylor just isn't picking it up as fast as they thought he could. At the same time, Niang and Prince look like shit while Morris is a 3rd round rookie. If Smith is borderline competent, then they would start him at LT and move Taylor back to the right side.

That's worst case scenario though and goes against anything Veach has said about finding a long-term LT solution.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

If they think Taylor is a LT, they're going to play him at LT.

They signed Smith for roughly $4M. The $9M will never be met. He's a backup with a chance to compete.

If you think the "plan" right now is to pencil in Smith as a starter, you're just plain wrong.

As I said a couple days ago, given the cap space available to us, about $5 million of that needed to be NLTBE incentives.

And he started 13 games last year so they can't be games started or snaps incentives (because every incentive up to 13 starts would be LTBE and thus would count immediately on this year's cap). They have to be 'performance based' and for an OL, that can really only be post-season accolates, right?

So he probably has a Pro Bowl escalator and almost definitely has escalators for both the AFCCG and SB (appearances and wins). And even THOSE are likely tied to snap share.

This world where he makes $9 million without establishing himself as a quality player just doesn't exist. Either he'll show to be back to his 2021 form and earns a starting job, then the Chiefs are very successful and he gets paid. Or he isn't very good, we didn't need him as anything more than LT insurance/backup, and he makes veteran backup money.

It's just...duh.

[O.city]

I think I probably agree with Run here. If Taylor is the LT, you aren't gonna play Smith at RT so you would let the other 3 battle it out. Could really go south on you.

If you think Smith can play well at LT, leave Taylor at RT, let Morris learn the LT spot then next year you're fine.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Does that mean that I don't think Smith could beat out Taylor and Taylor could move to RT? No, I don't.

They could get into OTAs and Taylor just isn't picking it up as fast as they thought he could. At the same time, Niang and Prince look like shit while Morris is a 3rd round rookie. If Smith is borderline competent, then they would start him at LT and move Taylor back to the right side.

That's worst case scenario though and goes against anything Veach has said about finding a long-term LT solution.

Exactly.

People can't separate emotion from analysis.

Do I want Taylor to start at LT? No, not necessarily. I want the best guy to win the job. If that's Smith, great. If it's Taylor, great. I really don't care.

Do I think Taylor WILL start at LT? Absolutely, he's athletically superior to every other OT on the team, including Smith.

This is not about what I want and never has been. This is about what I think the Chiefs will do.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Why wouldn't he just sign Donovan Smith before the draft?

Comp picks aren’t affected by FA signings at this point

[O.city]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

If their plan this entire time was to start Smith at LT and Taylor at RT...then Smith would have been signed before the draft.

I'd say the plan was to see what happened in the draft.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by O.city

I think I probably agree with Run here. If Taylor is the LT, you aren't gonna play Smith at RT so you would let the other 3 battle it out. Could really go south on you.

If you think Smith can play well at LT, leave Taylor at RT, let Morris learn the LT spot then next year you're fine.

If Taylor is better at LT than Smith, that's where he's going to start.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Comp picks aren’t affected by FA signings at this point

Exactly what comp pick are we missing out on with his HUGE contract?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Comp picks aren’t affected by FA signings at this point

Do you really think they put a plan in motion because it might get them an extra late round pick?

JFC man, THINK about this.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'd say the plan was to see what happened in the draft.

Can't do that with Smith as your LT before the draft? You're telling me that somehow that was going to stop them from trading up for Harrison if they wanted him?

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Dude, they aren't going to have their long term plan at LT play RT for a year because they could sign Donovan Smith on an incentivized deal.

And don't tell me Eric Fisher because that was a rookie. They signed Taylor, talked about his ability to make the switch and now suddenly before OTAs even get here....they're saying **** it for a year?

You're assuming they didn't have some other plan at RT that fell through, and they've had to pivot for the short term. Again, the ideal situation is Taylor thrives at LT and Niang or Morris is good enough to win the RT job, I've already said that, but all I care about is Mahomes being protected. Right now, as of this moment, Taylor and Smith are the best tackles on the roster. You play the 5 best players on the line, Andy has always believed that and stayed true to it. Best laid plans don't always come to fruition.

I have no vested interest in Smith being a starter, right now it just looks like the most likely scenario. If Niang gets his shit together and earns the job, great. I just can't see it happening, he has given no reason to think otherwise. Everyone is just spit balling right now, we don't have a clue what they're going to do.

In the end, Veach and Reid aren't going to give a shit about what they said about Taylor in April. They will put the two best tackles out there to protect the best player on planet Earth. That is the one and only priority, not making sure they don't look bad for saying one thing and doing another.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

If Taylor is better at LT than Smith, that's where he's going to start.

I think so.

But I also think Smith/Taylor is a better T group than Taylor/ other 3 shitbirds.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Can't do that with Smith as your LT before the draft? You're telling me that somehow that was going to stop them from trading up for Harrison if they wanted him?

No, same situation as McKinnon. What's the risk of waiting to sign him here?