Tag: Donovan Smith

Former Chiefs offensive lineman continues to hint at his availability on social media

Former Kansas City #Chiefs offensive lineman Donovan Smith continues to hint at his availability on social media | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs have been hit with numerous injuries on both sides of the ball this season. The latest injury, to recently signed D.J. Humphries, at left tackle, further adds to the bad luck health-wise.

Humphries left Sunday’s Week 14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers early, replaced by former starter Wanya Mortos to finish the game. The veteran’s status wasn’t immediately available, as it was his first game since tearing his ACL a year ago while a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

“I don’t have any injury updates for you. We’re right in the middle of that process, and we’ll just see how things go. I know the tackle’s (D.J. Humphries) one of (those) problems there, so we’ll see how he does.” said head coach Andy Reid during his weekly Zoom call with reporters on Monday. “He’s feeling a little bit better this morning, but we’ll see where it goes from here after he gets an MRI. ”

Following the injury, former Chiefs left tackle Donovan Smith seemingly responded on social media with a GIF reminding the franchise that he won Super Bowl LVIII his availability. Smith made a similar post a month ago when the troubles at left tackle became apparent to the football world.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid responds to free agent veteran offensive lineman’s social media post

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid responds to free agent veteran offensive lineman Donovan Smith’s social media post | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Monday during his weekly Zoom press conference. He gave his thoughts on free agent and former Chiefs left tackle Donovan Smith’s social media post, indicating that he’s available if the team needs a veteran offensive tackle.

“Listen, that’s in (Brett) Veach’s area. I mean, he looks at everything. So I’m not going to say no, but what we do as coaches, and we overemphasize, is we’re going to focus on these kids that are here,” said Reid. “They’re getting better. I know it’s hard to see at times, but there’s progress being made, and we’re going to be okay as we go forward.”

Reid continues to support his current young tandem of left tackles who struggled in last Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos. Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia have started games and rotated on the offensive line.

Smith was the starting left tackle on last year’s Chiefs Super Bowl-winning team, along with his previous title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. The 31-year-old wasn’t re-signed in the offseason and is still interested in returning to Kansas City if necessary.

The Rams should make a call to free-agent OL Donovan Smith

The Rams have had five weeks to evaluate their roster and find solutions to it’s problems. Perhaps an old NFC foe could be the answer.

The Rams’ offensive line has been a massive liability the entire season and while the team attempts to deal with glaring shortcomings, Alaric Jackson’s return has helped solve their left tackle problem.

The issue is that the Rams currently have five offensive linemen on injured reserve. Despite playing left tackle for the majority of his career, Donovan Smith is a versatile player with the speed and flexibility to be moved inside if needed, a position I believe he’d thrive in.

Smith played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2015-2022, winning Super Bowl LV in 2021. Smith struggled during his last year in Tampa, setting a career-high in penalties, leading to his departure from the team.

Smith would then sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, having a redemption year that ended in a Super Bowl LVIII victory.

Smith has yet to sign with a team despite interest around the league, specifically from the New England Patriots.

Smith could be the glue that jumpstarts a struggling Rams offense. While he has the ability to step in at tackle, if he’s willing to move to left guard, Alaric Jackson would not only gain a veteran teacher in the film room but a reliable partner on the left side of the offensive line.

It’s time to work the phones and see if Smith picks up.

5 offensive tackles Broncos could sign to replace Mike McGlinchey

After losing Mike McGlinchey to an MCL injury, the Broncos should consider these free agent offensive tackles.

After losing right tackle Mike McGlinchey for “about a month” to a sprained MCL, the Denver Broncos must now find a replacement.

Matt Peart might be the in-house favorite to start while McGlinchey is sidelined, but the Broncos would be wise to at least bring in more depth at the position. Alex Palczewski filled in for McGlinchey for two snaps on Sunday, but those were the first two snaps of his career, and rookie Frank Crum was inactive for each of the team’s first two games this season.

Here’s a quick list of five outside players Denver could consider bringing in for workouts this week.

Free agent offensive tackles

1. Billy Turner: The 32-year-old vet had two previous stints with the Broncos and has experience at both tackle and guard.

2. Cam Fleming: Another ex-Denver tackle, the 32-year-old Fleming filled in for one game in 2023 and started 15 games in 2022.

3. D.J. Humphries: A 30-year-old former first-round pick who started 98 games for the Arizona Cardinals from 2016-2023, including 16 games last season.

4. Donovan Smith: He started 12 games for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. The 31-year-old former second-round pick won Super Bowls with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chiefs.

5. David Bakhtiari: The decorated 32-year-old veteran has struggled with injuries, playing just one game last season and one game in 2021. He was healthy for 11 games in 2022. If healthy, Bakhtiari would be an intriguing option for the Broncos.

Denver will likely bring in tackles for tryouts in the coming days. If McGlinchey is placed on injured reserve, that would free up a roster spot for a potential signing this week.

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Donovan Smith heads list of underrated NFL Draft prospects

Houston quarterback Donovan Smith is among the most underrated NFL Draft prospects in the Big 12.

With the start of the College Football season, those looking to play at the next level are positioning themselves to be put in a spot to get drafted in April.

The College Football season showcases the best talent, and shows who is ready to compete in the National Football League. The Big 12 has plenty of potential NFL talent.

Bryant McFadden, college football writer at CBS Sports put together a list of college football players that are underrated draft prospects heading into the season. One of the top names on the list came from the Big 12 in Houston quarterback Donovan Smith. McFadden had this to say about the signal caller:

CJ Stroud isn’t the only big-time quarterback in Houston. Give Donovan Smith a seat at the table. He’s a dual-threat guy with a strong arm and pinpoint accuracy, finishing third in the Big 12 in completion percentage in 2023. Circle Week 2 for Donovan vs. Oklahoma it’s a great opportunity for him to showcase his pro potential.

The other Big 12 player on the list of underrated draft prospects is Landar Barton of Utah. This was what they had for Barton:

Former two-sport star Lander Barton is one of the most athletic linebackers in the country. He has the rare combination of an edge rusher’s size with the quickness of a smaller player. I expect a Jack Campbell-like impact for the Utes’ defense this year.

It will be fun to see Smith and Barton compete this season.  The Utah Utes start the season on Thursday at home against Southern Utah.  Utah will host Baylor on September 7th.

The Cougars of Houston are hosting UNLV in the season opener on August 31st. The first conference game for the Cougars will come on September 21st, at Cincinnati.

What’s next for Saints with Ryan Ramczyk out for the 2024 season?

What’s next for the Saints with Ryan Ramczyk out for the 2024 season? Their options are limited on the eve of training camp, but they knew this was coming:

What’s next for the New Orleans Saints with former All-Pro right tackle Ryan Ramczyk out for the 2024 season? Their options are limited on the eve of training camp, but they knew this was coming — head coach Dennis Allen has alluded to it as a possibility as far back as NFL owners meetings in March. That’s around the same time they informed Trevor Penning he’d be moving to right tackle while making plans to pick a new left tackle early in April’s draft.

In a perfect world they wouldn’t have to make any moves: Penning would develop as hoped with a new coaching staff and hold down the job at right tackle for years to come. Taliese Fuaga would convert to left tackle with ease and be a foundational piece moving forwards. Veteran free agents they’ve already signed like Olisaemeka Udoh and Justin Herron could join young backups Landon Young and Josiah Ezirim on the bench.

But they aren’t living in a perfect world. Things don’t always go to plan. Development isn’t linear, and it’s possible either or both of Penning and Fuaga struggle after flipping sides. If Penning is a bust at right tackle and Fuaga has to go back to his college position, who covers Derek Carr’s blind side? Young or Udoh?

That’s a hard sell. And as we said, the cupboard is looking awful bare in free agency. The Saints could look into signing another experienced pro but it has to be the right fit. Older players like Jason Peters, Duane Brown, and David Bakhtiari aren’t going to be eager to sign as a backup. If they’re going to join a team for camp it’ll likely be with the expectation that they’re starting. Other free agents like D.J. Humphries and Charles Leno Jr. are coming off of serious injuries.

Then you have free agents like Donovan Smith and Billy Turner. They’re both past their prime but they’ve played valuable snaps for teams recently, and they could be upgrades over the depth on the Saints’ roster as it stands right now. The question becomes whether they would be willing to sign on for a backup role and the league-minimum salary that comes with it. If the Saints are looking for an experienced left tackle who could take over if Fuaga moves back to the right side, Smith would make a lot of sense. Turner has mainly played right tackle as of late.

If we’re guessing today, the Saints won’t sign anyone. They’ll wait until pads come on and the first few days of practice are behind them before considering new additions. Give the youngsters time to settle in with their new coaches and test the veteran players competing behind them. They’ve had all offseason to make more moves and this Ramczyk development didn’t take them by surprise. If the Saints weren’t comfortable with their depth chart they would have done more to change it during the last two or three months.

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Bleacher Report says the Saints should bring in an old division rival

Bleacher Report says the Saints should bring in an old division rival as the finishing touch on their 2024 offseason:

There is still time for the New Orleans Saints to put the finishing touches on their roster for the 2024 season, and Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder has an idea for what they should do next.

Holder listed one more move each team should make before training camp starts in late July. For the Saints, that meant signing an old division rival: Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle Donovan Smith, most recently with the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s why:

While New Orleans used a first-round pick on Taliese Fuaga to avoid starting Trevor Penning at left tackle again, Fuaga also has concerns in pass protection. Meanwhile, Derek Carr notoriously struggles under pressure, so the Saints will want to make sure Carr is well-protected to have a chance at winning the NFC South.

Worst case, Fuaga and Penning will have another veteran mentor if the team brings in Smith, who should know the division well after spending the first eight years of his career in Tampa Bay.

Depending on where you look, the Saints are under the salary cap by about $5.7 million. Smith signed with the Chiefs last year on a one-year, $3 million contract with just $1.98 million guaranteed. So New Orleans could afford him if they’re interested. Their safety net behind Fuaga and Penning consists of career backups and journeymen like Landon Young (7 starts), Olisaemeka Udoh (18 starts), and Justin Herron (11 starts). Smith has started 136 games in the NFL and won two Super Bowl rings, so his experience alone would be valuable.

But as Holder alluded to, Smith has a history in the NFC South. He was someone that Cameron Jordan picked on, both on and off the field, so at least those two would have to settle some differences. Still, the NFL is a business, and it’s not like Jordan hasn’t shared the locker room with former foes before.

All that aside, this could be a good move if Smith isn’t insistent on starting while earning an appropriate salary. New Orleans could certainly use help given all the uncertainties surrounding Penning and Fuaga as they each learn a new position on the right and left sides, respectively. There are many weeks to go before the team convenes for training camp. We’ll just have to wait and see how they address the worrisome depth at offensive tackle, if at all.

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Brett Veach: Wanya Morris to compete for starting spot on Chiefs’ OL

#Chiefs GM Brett Veach made it clear that he expects Wanya Morris to compete for a starting spot on Kansas City’s offensive line.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ road to back-to-back Super Bowl titles last season wasn’t smooth, with various players going down due to injury. The offensive line shuffling forced the team to count heavily on young players and depth.

Wanya Morris saw plenty of action at left tackle due to an injury to Donovan Smith. While the results of his time in action were mixed, the 2023 rookie gained valuable experience.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach revealed that he wants to see Morris compete for a starting spot on Kansas City’s depth chart next season.

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“I think we were really happy with Wanya’s development last year,” Veach explained. “I think he showed some signs early on [in] the OTAs that we were really excited about, continue that growth and maturation process during the training camp. Then, middle of the season there, he got an opportunity, some good, some bad.

“I think Wanya would tell you this: If you look at his body of work last year, on the one hand, you’re happy that he was able to come in at the pro level and be competitive. It wasn’t perfect. But it was also solid play that I think is a good foundation to build and grow on.”

Morris started in four of the 14 games he played last season; the third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft proved he’s worthy of being in the conversation to start, but according to Veach, he has more work ahead of him.

“He has to come in here with the mindset that we’re going to look to bring in competition,” Veach continued. “He’s got to come in here and win that position, and it’s his job to come in and be prepared to win that position. I think it’s our job to go out there and find competition, you know, for that left tackle spot.

“I think, again, there’s a lot of promise in there. There’s a lot of ability. But certainly, I think it’s our job to bring in some competition there. Make him earn that and work for that.”

Veach is focused on the flexibility of his offensive line, hoping to draft or acquire players who can play multiple positions. Morris is heading into his second season with a great opportunity as the offensive tackle position battle will be one to watch in training camp.

ESPN says the Saints still have a major roster hole ahead of 2024 draft

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell says the Saints have yet to address a major team need going into the 2024 NFL draft. It’s obvious they need more help at offensive tackle:

It’s hardly a surprise to see someone suggesting the New Orleans Saints aren’t good enough at offensive tackle — watching any of their games from last season will give them all the proof they need to back that statement up. Still, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell took a deeper dive than most in exploring why this is such a problem, and how the Saints can clean it up.

The good news is that the Saints have just one outgoing free agent at the position, and it shouldn’t be hard to re-sign them; the question is whether Andrus Peat will agree to return to New Orleans at a price point that makes sense for the team, or if he’ll try to find a better offer in free agency. Barnwell says that’s the easiest solution for their problem at left tackle, where Trevor Penning hasn’t met expectations.

But James Hurst had a rough year at left guard and Ryan Ramczyk’s degenerative knee condition makes leaning on him tricky. So far, the team has only added Oli Udoh, one of first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s former players on the Minnesota Vikings. Here’s how Barnwell laid it out:

Hurst and Ramczyk took pay cuts to stay as opposed to the sort of classic contract restructures the Saints use in which they pay a player in full but spread the money over five seasons. The only addition they have made on the edge is Udoh, who had served as a utility lineman for the Vikings before tearing his quadriceps muscle in September and missing most of the 2023 season. He’s more likely a replacement for Hurst as the swing lineman (with Hurst penciled in as the full-time left guard) than a potential starting tackle. Landon Young, who took over for Ramczyk in December before getting injured himself, is also on the roster.

Young was less-than-impressive when stepping in for Ramczyk, and he suffered his own injury that sidelined him for the last two weeks of the season; veteran backup Cameron Erving (an unsigned free agent, at the moment) came up from the practice squad to take his place. If nothing else, the Saints need more depth than they worked with a year ago. Signing Peat could achieve that but the Saints could have already brought him back if they viewed him as a priority. Head coach Dennis Allen has left the door open for a reunion but it doesn’t sound very likely.

So what’s the best path forward? Again, Barnwell argues, re-signing Peat could make the most sense. But it’s not the only option. Here’s what he proposes with the 2024 NFL draft on the horizon:

It would have made sense to agree to a deal with Peat before the start of the new league year to mitigate the dead money on his deal, but the Saints might have been more optimistic then about Ramczyk’s chances of being healthy. Peat’s market hasn’t developed, and there aren’t many other players left in free agency with a track record of playing left tackle. David Bakhtiari and Mekhi Becton have significant injury histories, and Peat might have been better than Charles Leno and Donovan Smith a year ago. Reuniting with Peat would also afford New Orleans the flexibility of moving Hurst to left tackle and bumping Peat back inside to guard.

The Saints also have the 14th overall pick and could use that on a tackle prospect, but would there be any hesitation on their end after seemingly swinging and missing on Penning? This organization has used five first- or second-round picks on offensive linemen going back to Peat’s selection in 2015, and while that’s a perfectly reasonable way to build a football team, they have needs elsewhere that they can’t fill with high-end veterans in free agency. At the same time, if they’ve given up on Penning and Ramczyk can’t play, they might need to re-sign Peat and use their top pick on an offensive lineman.

The Saints have invested a ton of draft capital into their offensive line over the years and going back to that well might be their best path forward. We’ll have to see if they make any more additions in free agency over the next month, or if they’re counting on one of their early-round picks (at Nos. 14 and 45 overall) to cure what ails them.

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Four key situations for the Chiefs to manage in the 2024 offseason

The #Chiefs will have to negotiate these four key situations during the 2024 offseason.

The Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions for the first time in franchise history, and the first team since the 2003-04 New England Patriots to hoist Lombardi Trophies in consecutive seasons.

It is now time for the Chiefs to focus on free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft. Two of Kansas City’s top contributors, Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed, are set to hit the open market, and with just over $27 million in cap space available, it may prove to be difficult for the Chiefs to retain both of them.

Kansas City is in the midst of a dynasty, and the Chiefs haven’t been afraid to sacrifice key pieces to keep their championship window open.

With that in mind, take a look at the most important situations the Chiefs will have to address this offseason: