“Tyron Smith: Jets’ Super Bowl Hopes Rest on NFL’s Elite Left Tackle”
Tyron Smith joined the NY Jets this offseason, largely motivated by his ambition to compete for a Super Bowl. Throughout his 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Smith has never played in a Super Bowl. Now, at 33, he hopes a new team will help cap off his impressive career. Smith’s talent is undeniable; he’s considered the best left tackle the Jets have ever had, surpassing even legends like D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Winston Hill. Despite his age and injury history, Smith performed exceptionally well in 2023, earning second-team All-Pro honors and achieving a career-high Pro Football Focus pass-block grade.
Smith allowed just one QB hit and 18 pressures in 536 pass-block attempts, with a 3.36 percent pressure rate, the third-best among qualified tackles. His ability to handle one-on-one situations, which he faced over 84 percent of the time, demonstrates his remarkable skill. However, Smith’s extensive injury history, having not played more than 13 games in a season since 2015, made his signing affordable for the Jets.
To keep him healthy, the Jets will follow a limited practice plan similar to the Cowboys’ approach in 2023, aiming to have Smith available for most of the season. The Jets also drafted Olu Fashanu as a contingency plan, anticipating Smith might miss a few games. The Jets believe that if Smith stays healthy, he could be pivotal in their pursuit of a Super Bowl.