Love the guy, but can’t keep up this roller coaster and wondering if you’ll hear during the week he’s out due to “back issues”.
We could have had Tyler with two years experience now at LT.
If Asim Richards or Matt Waletzko can develop into a good swing tackle, then keeping Tyron around is NOT a liability. He's still among the best in the NFL when healthy. If there is a good healthy backup, you keep moving forward, just like the Eagles did for years with Jason Peters. 80% of health Tyron Smith, plus 20% of a good back-up is better than 100% of a completely reliable JAG at Left Tackle. Recent drafts have proven that even high draft picks don't work out always - which is why Peter King wants the Jets to sign Tyron to replace 11th overall pick Mekhi Becton, who is 8-1/2 years younger than Tyron.
Lest anyone forget, the Giants have spent 3 top 11 picks on offensive tackles in the last 9 drafts. They used the 7th overall pick on Evan Neal in 2022, after spending 9th overall pick on Ereck Flowers in 2015. Flowers was a big bust, and was replaced by the Giants spending the 4th overall pick on Andrew Thomas in 2020. The Giants dumped Flowers. Thomas has allowed 12 penalties and 19 sacks since being drafted in 2020, and it seems like everyone in the league is still putting Evan Neal on skates when they rush the passer, with him allowing 12 penalties and 9 sacks in his first two seasons in the NFL
The big push by some fans to dump Tyron Smith, who has allowed just 1 sack and 3 penalties in 12 start this season, is just ridiculous. Yes, he's missed 4 games. So what? Back-fill with another player. The Cowboys plan was to draft and develop both Ball and Waletzko, both of whom have had injury issues. So they drafted another left tackle this past season in Asim Richards, and brought in a veteran back-up. The Cowboys are doing a good job in covering the Left Tackle spot. Even if it's not perfect, 75% of availability of Tyron Smith is still a great deal for the Cowboys - especially since they restructured his contract to a team friendly deal that only pays him starter pay for the games he actually starts.
Personally, since the.Cowboys have obviously moved Ball to Guard to back up Zach Martin, who may retire after next season, I still hope that either Waletzko or Richards develops into an almost starter quality swing tackle to back up Smith and Steele. I also think Steele will be much better his 2nd season back from injury in 2024 than he was this year. And for the remainder of the 2023 season, I have no issue with the Cowboys signing La'el Collins to the practice squad to be the swing tackle, if needed, during the playoffs. That costs only $12,000 per week - the PS pay, and is a good option for the Cowboys.
today.
