What Would a Donovan Smith Contract Cost Steelers?
The Pittsburgh Steelers could try to sign a tackle after the draft. Could Donovan Smith be the answer for the position?
The Pittsburgh Steelers will likely have to add at least one more significant contributor before the start of the season in free agency. But it could come after the draft, and perhaps, it could even come at offensive tackle if things do not shake out how they would like them to work out.
One of the top tackles available on the open market is former Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Donovan Smith. Smith has played a significant amount of snaps left tackle and could fit into the lineup with Broderick Jones. If they want someone to come in and usurp Dan Moore Jr., Smith could be the veteran to step over him in the lineup.
According to Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger, Becton could be had for a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Over his career, Smith has struggled at times but has proven to become more of a steady force over the last few seasons. He certainly can come in and start to be an upgrade over Dan Moore Jr. if the Steelers do not lock down the tackle that they want in the 2024 NFL Draft.
One positive aspect with four picks in the Top 100 and five in the Top 120 is that the Steelers can expect to fill a good deal of their voids, but not all of them. There will be one clear need that likely ends up underwhelming. And I think the post-free agency period will be huge for that. After last year’s draft, they signed Chandon Sullivan, Markus Golden, and Kwon Alexander to bolster their team. Smith could be part of that wave. Omar Khan made it clear that Jones was going to move back to left tackle at some point, so it makes sense to get someone who could do that.
“I’ve said this before, but versatility on the offensive line is important. (Jones) proved he could play right tackle last year but he was drafted to be a left tackle. And eventually, he will be a left tackle. When that is, time will tell, but he was drafted to be a left tackle,” Khan said.
Moore was one of the worst offensive tackles in the league last year. He allowed eight sacks in 2023, which was tied for eighth-most in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Moore’s PFF pass-blocking grade was 39.7, which ranked as the sixth-lowest in the league.
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