Joe Douglas finishes fixing Jets' offensive line by getting former Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith
Clockwise, from top left: New Jets offensive linemen Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson. Credit: AP
Joe Douglas couldn’t let the first week of free agency go by without fully and emphatically fixing one of the Jets’ biggest issues last season. He had to give Aaron Rodgers better protection than Jets quarterbacks had last year.
Mission accomplished for the Jets’ general manager, whose job basically depends on a good offseason. After a slow start, Douglas and the Jets are having one.
The big move came Friday night when he reached a one-year deal with former Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith, 33. Smith has been one of the best at his position for more than a decade, and now his job will be to protect Rodgers’ blind side.
Smith’s body of work speaks for itself. He has made eight Pro Bowls and been named All-Pro five times. He allowed only one sack last year and hasn’t given up more than two in a season since 2017.
The downside is that Smith has missed 49 games over the past eight seasons, so there are injury concerns. But he still has played at a high level. He played 13 games last season and was named second- team All-Pro.
Considering the player, the price — his contract is worth $20 million if all of his incentives are met — and what the Jets need, this move seems like a home run.
Douglas has rebuilt the Jets’ offensive line over the past five days. He traded for right tackle Morgan Moses, signed left guard John Simpson and wrapped it up with the Smith deal. Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, who is coming back from a torn Achilles tendon, and center Joe Tippmann are returning starters.
The Jets still need depth and insurance up front, but they are a significantly better line now.
Moses and Simpson blocked for Baltimore’s top-ranked rushing offense last season and Smith had Dak Prescott’s blind side covered for the No. 3 passing team.
The three new starters allowed a combined seven sacks last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Jets quarterbacks were sacked 64 times last year. The Jets had seven different players play left tackle, left guard and right tackle last season and they allowed 38 sacks total.
Douglas had to fix this, especially with a 40-year-old quarterback whose performance will play a big part in determining whether the Jets make the playoffs and whether Douglas and Robert Saleh will be back in 2025.
Douglas has rectified last year’s mistake. The Jets believed Rodgers’ quick release and ability to read defenses the way few can would cover for any shortcomings. Then Rodgers got hurt four snaps into the season and their O-line problems came to light.
Douglas should have spent more resources on strengthening the offensive line last year. Instead, the Jets opened the season with 38-year-old Duane Brown, returning from major shoulder surgery, and Mekhi Becton, coming back from multiple knee surgeries, as their tackles.
Brown lasted two games. Becton played 16 but wore down at the end of the season. Pro Football Focus charged Becton with 12 sacks allowed.
So Douglas gets his flowers for this O-line rebuild, particularly the Smith signing. The funny thing is, throughout the week, Jets fans were roasting him on social media for sleeping through free agency. All was forgiven with that one splash move.
Douglas’ approach has always been to stay measured, not desperate and overspend, and to be ready to pounce when the opportunity arises. That’s what happened here.
He is not done, though. The Jets’ biggest need is a receiver to give Rodgers even more help.
The Jets are meeting with former Charger Mike Williams on Monday. If they get Williams, too, that’s a really good offseason. Tyler Boyd, Odell Beckham Jr. and Marquez Valdes-Scantling remain on the Jets’ radar. They also could re-sign Corey Davis, who is returning to the NFL after sitting out last year.
Douglas knows he has to make the receiver room better for Rodgers and for Garrett Wilson.
The Jets also could grab a playmaker in the draft now. They have more position flexibility now and don’t have to take a tackle. The No. 10 pick could be Washington receiver Rome Odunze or Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.
Getting Smith changed everything for the Jets and for Douglas.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
