It’s not hyperbole to say Andrew Whitworth was one of the best free-agent signings in Rams history. When the Rams added him in 2017, he was viewed as a solid pickup but what he did for Los Angeles in his five years with the team was nothing short of spectacular.
He was 35 at the time of signing with the Rams but he still went on to make the Pro Bowl, be selected as a first-team All-Pro, win a Super Bowl and be named the Walter Payton Man of the Year all in just five short seasons.
The Rams find themselves in a similar spot now as they were in 2017, needing someone who can solidify the left tackle spot. That player could be Tyron Smith.
The Cowboys are not expected to re-sign Smith, a pending free agent, allowing the 33-year-old veteran and eight-time Pro Bowler to hit the market. Smith has far greater injury concerns than Whitworth ever did, but it’s possible he can do for the Rams what Whitworth did in the second half of his career.
End of an era: #Cowboys All-Pro and Pro Bowl LT Tyron Smith will be a free agent and is unlikely to return to Dallas, sources say. The blindside protector since 2011, Smith will be highly coveted. pic.twitter.com/eiTolVeFw6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2024
With Smith becoming available, the Rams should at least entertain the possibility of signing him. Despite playing 13 years in the NFL, he’s still somehow just 33 years old. And yes, there are serious questions about whether he can stay healthy – he hasn’t played more than 13 games since 2015 and has played just 30 games in the last four years – but he’s still capable of playing at a high level at a premier positions.
According to Pro Football Focus, he had the highest pass-blocking grade of any offensive tackle last season (88.6). He was second in 2021, behind only Whitworth. While he’s not as athletic and mobile as he once was at left tackle, he can still move and get out in the open field on running plays; he had a 70.5 run-blocking grade last season.
The only real worry with Smith is whether he can stay healthy and be available for the Rams for the entire season. Even at 33 years old, he’s expected to garner plenty of interest as a free agent. That means his price tag is likely to be relatively high, too. His last contract was eight years for $97.6 million way back in 2016, which worked out to an average of only $12.2 million per year. That was a certified bargain for Dallas, given his talent level.
With his next contract, he’ll likely be more focused on chasing a ring than cashing in one last time. Might he take a hometown discount to return to Los Angeles where he was born and raised, and then played his college ball at USC? Again, that’s something the Rams should at least approach his agent about.
Perhaps Les Snead and Sean McVay won’t even go down this road. Maybe they’ll just tender Alaric Jackson and call it a day. That’d be fine, but if they want to take the next step like they did in 2017 and 2018, Smith might be just the left tackle they need.
