Donovan Smith, the starting left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs and a pending free agency, intimated in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he will play somewhere in 2024 after one season.
Smith responded to former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quandre Diggs’ remark on getting cut by Seattle on March 5. Smith responded with, “Wassup where we’re going,” followed by many “eyeballs” emojis.
Diggs then added, “Big reunion!!” Smith replied with a GIF of comedian Bert Kreischer saying, “[expletive] it, I’m in.” “Let us do it.”
Though Smith has not openly ruled out re-signing with Kansas City, his response to Diggs — who isn’t likely to be on the Chiefs’ radar during free agency — suggests that he plans to play somewhere in 2024.
Donovan Smith Serviceable as Chiefs’ Starter
Smith, 30, signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs in 2023 and served as the team’s starting left tackle last season.
According to PFF, Smith allowed 42 total quarterback pressures (33 hurries, 7 hits, and 2 sacks) and was flagged for 9 penalties in 13 regular season games. In three postseason games, Smith allowed 11 total QB pressures (8 hurries, 2 hits, 1 sack) and was flagged for one penalty.
Smith, while capable of starting in Kansas City in 2024, was never the team’s long-term solution at left tackle. The Chiefs’ best-case scenario entering into the offseason was to re-sign Smith to another inexpensive contract and then pick his potential replacement.
However, according to Smith’s tweet, that option is off the table. Instead, Kansas City could sign another senior offensive tackle on a short-term contract during free agency, or they could choose a starter in what appears to be a very deep and strong OT draft. They could also choose an OT on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft and develop him over the next year or so, with the goal of making him the starter in 2025 or later.
Tyron Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who will enter free agency after 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, is a feasible short-term option for the Chiefs.
Smith turns 34 on December 12, and Spotrac estimates his market value to be a one-year contract worth $7.4 million.
Twitter/X Chats About Chiefs, Free Agency
Users on X have been discussing the Chiefs and what they expect and/or hope for the team during free agency, which begins on March 13.
“One positional note heading into free agency is that decent safeties are getting cut, and the market should be depressed,” noted Arrowhead Addict’s Matt Conner. “Means the Chiefs could likely approach Mike Edwards about returning on the cheap and it’d be a good option for him to take it.”
“KC needs to add some legit deep threat wide receivers in free agency guys like Darnell Mooney, Marquise Brown,DJ Chark jr, Gabr Davis etc,” stated another member of the community. “KC needs add a couple Deep target receivers in free agency.”
“The Chiefs obviously need wide receiver help, and as much as everyone is joking about Xavier Worthy going there, I wouldn’t be surprised for them to make a play for Calvin Ridley in free agency,” one user remarked.
“Chiefs want to zag while everyone else zigs. Instead of going high end on WR, they may go with a veteran RB and deploy a weapon there,” another person suggested. Or maybe they go with someone like [Kyle] Pitts to shore up at tight end. I wouldn’t be surprised if they went RB or TE heavy in free agency.
