‘It’s a Business’: Elite Tackle Tyron Smith ‘Would’ve Loved’ to Stay With Dallas Cowboys

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, Former Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith agreed to terms with the New York Jets.

Smith had been with the Cowboys for his entire career after getting drafted No. 9 overall in the 2011 draft. According to Rick Cimini of ESPN, Smith agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $20 million, including incentives.

Tyron Smith said he ‘would’ve loved’ to stay with the Dallas Cowboys, but he joined the New York Jets instead

Former Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith told NFL insider Josina Anderson that he “would’ve loved to stay home in Dallas” but he understood that “it’s a business.”

Free agent T Tyron Smith to me on the phone on why he picked the #Jets while trying to put his daughter to sleep:

“I would’ve love to have stayed home in Dallas, but as we all know it’s a business the way it works. I still feel like the #Jets have an opportunity to win it, and… pic.twitter.com/GtkKec2mJl

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 16, 2024

Smith has had trouble staying healthy in the last few years, but he is one of the best blindside protectors in the league when he is. Smith hasn’t played a full season since 2015. He played in two games in 2020 and four games in 2022.

The last time Smith allowed more than two sacks in a season was in 2017. The tackle he is replacing, Mekhi Becton, allowed 12 sacks in 2023 alone.

Smith has staggering speed and agility for someone who is 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds. He has an uncanny ability to make blocks in space on players half his size that should be much quicker.

Tyron Smith is a bad, bad man. He just abused Eli Apple on this pancake block. pic.twitter.com/K2nunGRAMl

— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) December 12, 2016

Smith took on his new team this season and completely dominated their pass rushers. The 33-year-old tackle allowed just one pressure on 43 pass-block snaps.

Tyron Smith dominated the Jets to the tune of 1 pressure allowed on 43 pass-block snaps.

Anchors on the bull rush from Lawson here to keep Dak clean for the deep completion pic.twitter.com/y88Y6Re9Sq

— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) March 16, 2024

He just completely dominated Lawson in this game pic.twitter.com/VvFjuTeuUu

— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) March 16, 2024

JJ’s turn to get shut down pic.twitter.com/Nepvf0Z23d

— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) March 16, 2024

Smith’s impressive NFL tenure thus far has grown into the stuff of legends. Former Dallas Cowboys teammates explained that his hands are legendary and unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Tight end Jake Ferguson explained that his hands are like a cast iron skillet in a Dallas Morning News article.

” You talk about his hands. I’d like to think I’ve built somewhat of a relationship with Big T, especially this year, just blocking with him, being in the trenches with him. He likes to mess around with me a little bit. Sometimes, before the huddle, he’ll come up, pull his hands wide open and smack me in the stomach — not crazy hard but at the same time, it feels like a cast iron skillet is hitting me. I think to myself, ‘I wonder what it’s like to try to pass rush against this guy,’” Ferguson said.

Retired offensive tackle Darrion Weems explained that Smith’s punch was unlike anything he’d ever seen in the same article.

 “We were in the middle of camp there, the dog days. We were doing a little O-line drill, some kind of cross-facing rush where the defensive lineman slants inside. I go slant inside of Tyron. He punched me, and he tore my labrum. At first I thought he broke my arm, too. He punched me. I was like, ‘Oh wow, that hurts a lot more than it usually does.’ I couldn’t move my arm, and then it’s like dangling there. I was like, ‘Oh, Tyron just ended my career, right here in individual drills.’ [Weems continued playing in 2015.] Then, I found out that it was dislocated.

“Pretty much, he just punched my left shoulder all the way through the back, tore the labrum. It was quite the moment. Yeah, he’s got the biggest punch I’ve ever come across” Weems said.

Former Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith is part of a larger attempt to protect New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers

While Smith was the largest splash the New York Jets made in free agency, he was part of a larger concerted effort to protect star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tear just a few plays into the season in 2023. Many blamed a lackluster offensive line for the tear as it occurred when a player from the Buffalo Bills sacked him.

In the NFL – Aaron Rodgers out for the day after suffering an “ankle” injury. Video brings concern for achilles tear/rupture with visible “pop” through the calf while pushing off under load. If confirmed would require surgery & 6-9 months recovery time #BUFvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/tVa7gT8mne

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 12, 2023

On top of Smith, the Jets added two other offensive linemen since the free agency tampering window opened up on Monday.

They began by agreeing to terms with veteran guard John Simpson. Simpson started all 19 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and helped support the NFL’s most efficient rushing attack. According to NFL Insider Tom Pelissero, the Jets are set to sign  Simpson to a two-year deal worth up to $18 million.

New York then proceeded to nab another offensive lineman from the Ravens, right tackle Morgan Moses. The Jets gave the Ravens a fourth-round pick (No. 112) and a sixth-round pick (No. 218) for Moses and a later fourth-round pick (No. 134).

The Jets now have a completely revamped offensive line, and Tyron Smith is the anchor.

The #Jets’ new-look offensive line:

LT Tyron Smith
LG John Simpson
C Joe Tippmann
RG Alijah Vera-Tucker
RT Morgan Moses pic.twitter.com/IoYNZsNCYy

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2024

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