Poster ’Boy
O-line add from Dallas can make $20M if Jets win Supe
After playing 13 seasons for the Cowboys, Tyron Smith is getting used to the idea that he will be wearing green and white this fall, and not blue and silver.
“This is definitely a huge change for me, especially being in Dallas for a while,” Smith said Thursday. “Everybody knows how the business goes, and sometimes you’ve got to leave. I’m just happy I’m going to a team like the Jets to help out any way I can to help produce a winning culture.”
The Jets and Smith agreed to a one-year deal last week that starts at $6.5 million and, with incentives, can go up to $20 million if the Jets win Super Bowl LIX. Smith is an eight-time Pro Bowler who has been one of the best left tackles in football for more than a decade. But he is 33 years old and has played 30 games over the past four seasons. That led to some teams shying away from signing Smith.
“I just knew my main options were either going to be in Dallas or with the Jets,” Smith said. “With the way things were looking in Dallas, I knew it was most likely going to be the Jets. I honestly got excited for a new chapter in my life.”
Smith is part of Jets general manager Joe Douglas’ plan to rebuild the offensive line in front of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The team also signed left guard John Simpson and traded with the Ravens for right tackle Morgan Moses.
Smith said playing with Rodgers appealed to him as well as being part of what the Jets are building.
“I just feel like they all have the pieces together right now with the final pieces [coming] in this offseason to produce a team that could go all the way,” Smith said. “I’ve played against Aaron throughout my career a couple of times. I know what kind of quarterback he is. I know what he can do if you just give him a little bit of time. I’m just here to do my best and give him that time.”
Smith played 13 games last season and was named second-team All-Pro. But the Cowboys did not have him practice during the week to try to keep him healthy after he played just four games in 2022. Smith said he’s not sure what the plan will be with the Jets, but he is coming into the spring healthy.
“Physically, I feel great,” Smith said. “Coming off the season last year with no injury I can go full tilt for the offseason. Honestly, whatever we decide to come up with for a program for here in New York, that’s what we decide. It’s not always going to be the same. We’ll sit down and come up with a plan for ourselves what’s best for me and the team.”
Smith’s contract has an element of betting on himself. His salary jumps by how many snaps he plays, starting with 38 percent of the snaps then increasing by a million dollars or more by benchmarks. He also has incentives for the Pro Bowl and playoff wins. If he can play every game, make the Pro Bowl and the Jets win the Super Bowl, he’ll make $20 million.
“The way my contract is it speaks for what’s been happening for the past couple of years,” Smith said. “Honestly, I think it’s a fair deal. I’ve just got to go out there and prove that I can continue playing at the high level that they expect me to.”
The writing was on the wall in Dallas for Smith. Despite playing well last season, he knew they might be moving on from him and is not bitter.
“After being in this game for a long time, I just know that’s the way the business goes,” Smith said. “Sometimes you keep guys, sometimes you can’t. Some guys got to move on. I’m not surprised at all. You just have to take it for what it’s worth and you end up where you need to be.”