Whether the Dallas Cowboys will be all-in this offseason as Jerry Jones promised remains to be seen. Executive vice president Stephen Jones didn't lend any optimism in that regard while addressing the media at the NFL Combine, but the Cowboys being "all-in" shouldn't dictate the futures of their own free agents.
Much to the chagrin of fans, Dallas' major free agency moves usually involve re-signing their own players. With no clear succession plan at left tackle, bringing back Tyron Smith should be the front office's top priority.
While the Cowboys hoped to bring Smith back for 2024, fans were dealt stunning news Saturday morning when it was reported that the eight-time Pro Bowler is expected to test the free agent waters and sign with another club. Smith and Dallas reportedly met on Friday to discuss his future and purportedly didn't come close to seeing eye-to-eye about a potential contract.
Smith returning to the Cowboys is still a possibility, but he'll undoubtedly command a strong market despite his age and injury history. That begs the question of which teams are Smith's most likely landing spots?
3. New Orleans Saints
The Saints will be one of the more interesting teams to monitor this offseason. They refuse to rebuild, so they'll seemingly look to make more win-now moves while tip-toeing around the salary cap. New Orleans need pass rushers and a defensive tackle, but their offensive line is in a terrible spot.
They hoped 2022 first-round pick Trevor Penning would become the franchise left tackle, but that dream is already dead. Penning missed most of his rookie year with injury, but he didn't play much even when he was healthy.
Entering a huge year two, Penning got off to a nightmarish start. He allowed six pressures and two sacks on his first 40 pass-blocking snaps. In six games, he allowed 19 pressures and committed seven penalties and was ultimately benched for veteran Andrus Peat.
The Saints would be foolish to hand Penning the starting gig in year three. They already have an established presence at right tackle in Ryan Ramczyk, but that shouldn't dissuade them from signing Smith ... unless they want the immobile Derek Carr running for his life all season again.
Smith would give the Saints stability at left tackle and we all know New Orleans has a propensity to be reckless with its cap room.
2. New York Jets
The NY Jets are an absolute mess. For all of the disconnect between the coaching staff and ownership, their offensive line is somehow in a worse state. The selection of Mekhi Becton with the No. 11 pick three years ago has been an abject failure and they just released left guard Laken Tomlinson due to poor play.
Becton is a free agent and the Jets don't have a successor lined up. If the Aaron Rodgers experiment is going to achieve any level of success, Rodgers is going to need an enforcer at left tackle. Who better than one of the best tackles of his generation in Tyron Smith?
Signing Smith would be a risky move for the all-in Jets, but the free agent class isn't flush with high-end options. Aside from Smith, Patriots free agents Trent Brown and Michael Onwenu are the best of the bunch, and Onwenu has played almost exclusively at right tackle and right guard in his career.
The Jets could always select a OT with the No. 10 overall pick, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be ready to start at LT right away. In need of a RT, New York could start Smith on the left and have the rookie start out on the right side.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Leave it to the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl without star power at premium positions like offensive tackle and wide receiver. The two-time defending champs will look to upgrade both positions, but tackle will undoubtedly be the priority.
Everyone wants Tyron Smith to finish his career with the Cowboys, but there's something about Smith pursuing a championship while protecting Patrick Mahomes' blindside that would make his potential departure somewhat palatable.
Mahomes did brilliant to mask the struggles of LT Donovan Smith. For the season, Smith allowed 42 pressures and committed nine penalties. He also allowed the 10th-most hurries and 13th-most quarterback hits among tackles who logged at least 500 snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
To make matters worse, Smith struggled in the run game as well. His 45.1 run-blocking grade placed 68th of 70 tackles who played 500 snaps.
Smith without question tops the Chiefs' wishlist this offseason. The 33-year-old would make Kansas City the prohibitive Super Bowl favorites in 2024 as they look to three-peat.