News
5/3/23
2 min read
Kansas City Chiefs Add OT Donovan Smith on One-Year, $9M Deal
The Kansas City Chiefs fortified their offensive line on Wednesday, signing free agent tackle Donovan Smith to a one-year contract worth up to $9 million, NFL Media reported.
Smith was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 7 in a move to help the team get salary cap compliant before the new league year began on March 15. Smith started 124 regular-season games during the past eight seasons, the sixth most of any NFL offensive lineman from 2015-22.
The Super Bowl-champion Chiefs had glaring needs on the edges of their offensive line after starting tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie departed in free agency. Brown signed a four-year, $64 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Brown's $31 million signing bonus was a record for an offensive lineman. Whylie signed with the Washington Commanders.
>>READ: Kansas City Chiefs Pick-By-Pick Draft Grades
Kansas City added tackle Jawaan Taylor on a four-year, $80 million contract. Taylor, however, primarily played right tackle during his four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs also drafted Wanya Morris (scouting report) in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Morris played right tackle at Oklahoma, and some have projected him as an NFL guard.
Smith was the Bucs' left tackle and was charged with protecting Tom Brady's blind side during the past three seasons. Should Smith slot in as the Chiefs' left tackle, he will have another important job — protecting reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes.
Smith was a second-round pick in 2015. He endured one of his worst seasons as a starter in 2022, with a pass rush win rate of 78.3 percent and a run block win rate of 64.9 percent. After missing just three games total during his first seven NFL seasons, Smith missed four in 2022 because of elbow and foot injuries.
