Oh no, anyway.

Why are we bringing Smith back? He was sliding to below average at best and was an outright liability down the stretch. Assuming a large part of that was the neck issues but that shit isn't going awaym

Just for comparisons sake, Orlando Brown allowed 47 pressures in 769 pass blocking snaps in 2022 and 36 pressures in 769 pass blocking snaps in 2021.

Donovan Smith allowed 42 pressures in 506 pass blocking snaps in 2023. If he had played the whole season there's a realistic chance he would've given up 60+ pressures.

Sure, at or near vet minimum, bring him in, but there's absolutely no reason to invest actual cap space in him.

Looks like we have around $17M in cap space. If they signed Donovan to a $3M 1 year deal like last year I think that would be pretty nice assuming he's healthy. I get he isn't that great, but he provides a known "floor".

That said, I really hope King takes the job and doesn't look back. As noted, the bar isn't all that high. He'll have Thuney next to him while he learns. If he develops into a legit LT his rookie year that feels like the final infinity stone.

It'll be an interesting one to watch.

I thought Smith was fine. If he's willing to come back that's what I prefer.

I think Reid will give every chance to King to make it work. Probably Wanya next. If either one of them meet the standard, I'm guessing Reid will go to the market.

It's just hard for me not to offer Smith a similar deal to last year if he'll take it.

Niang, really?

That probably is who is going to be behind Taylor on the depth chart, yes.

Seems like a no brainer.

You could have Smith back or you could go to the RB market or the vet DE market.

I'd chose the later.

I would wait until you get a look at Kingsley in camp. They’ll know fairly quickly where he’s at. And let’s be honest here…vets like Donovan Smith don’t want to go to camp, so signing him in early August wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Keep in mind though that Orlando Brown Jr had the worst pressure rate for LT’s in 2022 and Donovan Smith was top 5 (behind Orlando Brown Jr coincidentally LMAO) in 2023.

The bar isn’t that high for Kingsley. Andy was helping Orlando and Donovan with chips and quick play designs so we don’t need Kingsley to be Willie Roaf out there.

That's the thing.....if Thuney is healthy and ready to go for camp and such.....what coming in LT is in a better position than Kingsley would be?

He's next to Thuney and on a line that is chock full of all pro's and such, with a HOF QB behind him and the best offensive coach (and a great OL coach) of all time setting this in motion.

I mean.....shit.

Perfect stopgap. Probably not expensive and willing to take a 1 year deal. Which also gives Kingsley the flexibility to win the starting job sooner vs later

Didn’t he cost like 9 million last year we need RB , DL, LB depth can we even afford him

Protecting Mahomes’ blind side takes priority over all those other needs you listed.

Kingsley will get every opportunity to earn the starting job… but bringing back Donovan Smith at the right price for depth would be smart.

I think this UDFA should go a long ways towards LB depth.

Curtis Jacobs, Penn State