Veteran presences in training camp are essential for younger players who are learning the Kansas City Chiefs’ game plans for the first time. The Chiefs signed offensive tackle Donovan Smith not only to fill a vacant spot in their starting lineup but to provide significant experience to an already-established unit that is improving each season.
Smith spoke with reporters following Sunday’s practice and showed significant appreciation for All-Pro teammate Travis Kelce’s extra work with the offensive line during workouts.
“I went from one hall of fame tight end to another hall of fame tight end,” Smith explained of his transition from the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s offense to Kansas City’s. “Gronk [Rob Gronkowski] used to come over and do [offensive] line drills, but it just shows you that, as a tight end, a lot of guys want to be finesse, just want to be a receiver or [something] like that.
“But to be able to have a guy who’s 10,11,12 years in, coming over with the [offensive] line to do drills, it just shows that [there is] more to it that you can do to get better and be the greatest that you can be. So to be able to have [Kelce] come over there, it’s cool. It gives us another break, extra bodies. You know, that’s good, but it just shows the work ethic and everything that needs to go into it to be the best.”
Smith was teammates with Gronkowski for two years in Tampa Bay, which included the Buccanneers championship title season when they beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. Kelce has earned the respect of his offensive line for still participating in the drills, which has clearly created chemistry with the unit during Kansas City’s physically taxing training camp.
