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

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief

I have no vested interest in Smith being a starter, right now it just looks like the most likely scenario.

I also have no vested interest in whether or not Smith starts. But it's definitely not the most likely scenario at all. The most likely scenario is that he's a backup.

[DJ's left nut]

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?

Eh - nobody was kicking the door down for Smith so the Chiefs could afford to wait it out.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by O.city

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

Because they don't view him as a ****ing starter, same situation as McKinnon.

Think man, use your brain.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Because they don't view him as a ****ing starter, same situation as McKinnon.

Think man, use your brain.

I "think" it was more about the opportunity to add a guy that can improve your squad for a good price.

I don't know why everyone is so emotional about this.

[The Franchise]

The Jets, who could use a LT, and were obviously pissed that they missed out on Broderick Jones just let Donovan Smith go the reigning Super Bowl champs for pennies on the dollar.

[old_geezer]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

And for all of the people who will claim that Veach talked about Taylor as LT just as a smokescreen so he could trade up for a LT.

Why wouldn't he just sign Donovan Smith before the draft? It does the same thing and eliminates anyone thinking that you're going to draft an OT in the first round. If you go into the draft with Donovan Smith as your LT and Jawaan Taylor as your RT, then no one expects you to trade up for one.

You'll never convince me that Taylor isn't their Plan A at LT and Donovan Smith is their Plan B if Taylor doesn't transition well.

If Taylor is our long term answer at LT (Hint: he is) he should start there this year, not next. With Smith we now have an actual LT for back-up insurance. Also, is it possible Smith actually competes for the starting RT spot this year while Morris is learning the ropes? Either way Smith is gone after this year. Either he plays great and prices himself out of our range or he craps the bed again and we don't want him. I don't want Smith to hold Taylor back from learning the LT spot now.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by O.city

I "think" it was more about the opportunity to add a guy that can improve your squad for a good price.

I don't know why everyone is so emotional about this.

I'm certainly not emotional about it at all. In fact, I've been trying to tell people to stop being emotional about the tackle position for months. It's falling on deaf ears, nobody wants to hear it. They're dead set against a RT being moved to LT and nothing is going to change their minds.

They're going to be really upset when Taylor trots out there at LT in September.

[Wallymo]

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.

Not if they thought they could get Anton Harrison in the draft. I think that was the team's strong preference. It didn't work out, so on to plan B.

I think Smith will be given every opportunity to win the LT job, and the team is probably hoping that he does. Sucks that a longterm solution didn't arise this offseason, and we will likely be looking for a LT again soon.

I'm also in the camp that a superior RT in Taylor would be fantastic. If he's forced to move to LT due to other circumstances, I'm sure he would do great there. But I'd rather keep him in the position he has dominated and have a healthy (hopefully) Smith on the other side this season.

Again, if Smith at LT is worse than moving Taylor over and starting an unproven at RT, sobeit. But that's not the ideal situation with this signing.

[raybec 4]

It's pretty funny that last week Donovan Smith wasn't on anyone's list of players the Chiefs should sign because he stunk last year but now that they have signed him people are penciling him in as the automatic starter because he's played LT before.

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by O.city

I think so.

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

This is the key too many people are missing. It's not about making sure Taylor plays LT because they said he would. If Smith is back to form, he's far and away the second best tackle on the roster. People are getting way too obsessed with the LT vs RT stuff. Both spots are equally important in this offense, which is why we were paying both Fisher and Schwartz.

You play the best 2 guys, and you play them at the positions that suit them best. Even if Taylor is the best LT, what if he's also the best RT (obviously) and Smith is clearly the second best tackle overall? You don't keep him on the bench so you can play guys who aren't as good as him just because they're young. Just put the best guys on the field, and that's what they'll do.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief

This is the key too many people are missing. It's not about making sure Taylor plays LT because they said he would. If Smith is back to form, he's far and away the second best tackle on the roster. People are getting way too obsessed with the LT vs RT stuff. Both spots are equally important in this offense, which is why we were paying both Fisher and Schwartz.

You play the best 2 guys, and you play them at the positions that suit them best. Even if Taylor is the best LT, what if he's also the best RT (obviously) and Smith is clearly the second best tackle overall? You don't keep him on the bench so you can play guys who aren't as good as him just because they're young. Just put the best guys on the field, and that's what they'll do.

IF Smith is back to form, he would still have to compete for the job. Taylor is going to win the LT job.

[kcbubb]

The competition for LT isn’t as simple as Taylor vs smith. If Niang or morris suck at RT, and smith looks good at LT, then Taylor will play RT. For Taylor to play LT, someone has to emerge as a quality starter at RT. Again competition will bring the best out of these guys and this move gives us lots of options.

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by raybec 4

It's pretty funny that last week Donovan Smith wasn't on anyone's list of players the Chiefs should sign because he stunk last year but now that they have signed him people are penciling him in as the automatic starter because he's played LT before.

Can't speak for anyone else but I wanted him at the beginning of free agency as a reclamation project before they signed Taylor. I know several others had mentioned him too. I don't think anyone expected they would sign another veteran tackle, so he was kind of an afterthought after free agency and the draft.

He hasn't just "played LT before." He started 120+ games and won a Super Bowl as a LT. He's not just some guy. If he can return to his previous form, he's a very good player.

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by kcbubb

The competition for LT isn’t as simple as Taylor vs smith. If Niang or morris suck at RT, and smith looks good at LT, then Taylor will play RT. For Taylor to play LT, someone has to emerge as a quality starter at RT. Again competition will bring the best out of these guys and this move gives us lots of options.

Really is just this simple. The two best guys, regardless of which side, will play. The end.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

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 bigger question is why are they bringing in a vet starting LT from last year if they have all these guys? Why bring him in at all, especially for with a possible scenario (not saying he will, but it’s a possibility) of paying him $9 million?

Andy’s backup tackles the last 2 year were Niang and Wanogho. Before that it was Yasir Durant.

I don’t think they bring in a vet like this if both tackle positions are set. Again believe what you will but I’m inclined to believe that the Chiefs called the Cowboys to get ahead of the Jags for Anton Harrison. As much as I like FAU he wasn’t our first choice. We ended up staying and taking the value.

IMO this is a direct shot at Lucas Niang. If he wasn’t a brokedick and showed his talent, our tackles are Taylor and Niang. But he’s a complete wild card. He’s had 2 major injuries for a lineman. It’s possible Veach doesn’t trust him anymore.

Believe what you’d like, but I’m believing actions over words. The last 2.5 months we have brought in 2 vet starting tackles and traded up for a 5 star recruit that fits this offense perfectly.

They saw that Taylor could play either side, but recognized that they don’t trust Niang or Wanogho to start. I think Morris is the Niang replacement who will end up being the swing tackle.