The Kansas City Chiefs are signing veteran offensive tackle Donovan Smith to a one-year contract, NFL Network reported Wednesday.
The deal is worth up to $9 million, per the report.
Smith, 29, started all 124 games he played in across seven seasons, all with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a second-round pick (34th overall) in the 2015 draft out of Penn State.
–Field Level Media
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will release veteran left tackle Donovan Smith, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.
The team selected Smith with a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and he’s started all 124 games he’s played in. He missed four games to injury in 2022 — eight games in all in his eight seasons in Tampa.
By releasing Smith, the Buccaneers will save nearly $10 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.
The Buccaneers are $58.3 million over the salary cup, per OvertheCap.com.
Smith, 29, was entering the final season of a two-year, $31 million contract extension he signed in March 2021.
The Buccaneers also reportedly will release running back Leonard Fournette and tight end Cameron Brate when the new league year begins March 15.
–Field Level Media
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Chris Godwin and Julio Jones and left tackle Donovan Smith are considered game-time decisions to play on Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, coach Todd Bowles said Friday.
Godwin (hamstring), Jones (knee) and Smith (elbow) have sat out the team’s past two games due to their respective injuries. Godwin was limited in practice on Wednesday before sitting out Thursday for rest purposes, while Jones and Smith were listed as limited in both sessions.
“With Julio, it’s all about how he feels the next two days as to whether he’s going to play on Sunday,” Bowles said. “Sometimes he has setbacks and sometimes he doesn’t. So, we’ll wait until Sunday to make that decision to be sure.”
Wide receiver Breshad Perriman (knee, hamstring) is considered doubtful by Bowles, who noted that “unless he has a miraculous recovery by Sunday it will be possible that he doesn’t play.”
Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks (foot) has been ruled out for the second consecutive week.
–Field Level Media
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reload for a run at a repeat championship, they’re keeping a couple of critical 300-pounders in the fold.
Offensive tackle Donovan Smith agreed on a two-year, $31.8 million contract extension through 2023 that now includes $30 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, per multiple reports. Smith was in the final year of his contract and could have become a free agent in March 2022.
NFL Network reported the deal, once finalized, creates $10.6 million under the salary cap.
Most of those funds are already earmarked for a one-year, $9 million extension with defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, according to multiple reports.
The two sides agreed to terms Wednesday.
Suh turned 34 before the Super Bowl, then recorded 1.5 sacks of Patrick Mahomes in the Buccaneers’ dominant defensive performance.
Suh is listed by the Buccaneers as a defensive end in the 3-4 front but slides to defensive tackle when Tampa puts four defenders on the line.
His presence was credited by first-rounder Vita Vea as the reason the Buccaneers’ swift linebacking corps had such a profound impact on the playoffs.
Smith was a second-round pick out of Penn State and is entering his age 28 season. The short-term extension saves Tampa money and would allow Smith to sign another big contract at age 30.
Suh, the No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft, has missed two games in 11 seasons and enters the 2021 campaign with 174 regular-season games played, 64.5 sacks, 123 tackles for loss and three fumble returns for TDs.
–Field Level Media
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated starting left tackle Donovan Smith from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday.
Smith, 27, missed Sunday’s 31-27 win at Atlanta.
The sixth-year veteran released a statement last week saying he was in quarantine after coming in close contact with a family member who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Smith started the first 13 games this season and has made 92 starts since Tampa Bay selected him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Josh Wells took his place protecting Tom Brady’s blind side against the Falcons.
Tampa Bay (9-5) is one game behind the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South with two games to play. The Bucs play on the road Saturday afternoon against the Detroit Lions (5-9).
–Field Level Media
Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting left tackle Donovan Smith is in self-quarantine and will not play in Sunday’s road game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The sixth-year veteran released a statement Friday saying he had come in close contact with a family member who tested positive for COVID-19.
“I wish I could be out there with my guys for this important game, but I understand and respect the protocols that have been put in place for the safety of our players, coaches and staff,” Smith wrote.
Smith, 27, was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The team removed punter Bradley Pinion, kicker Ryan Succop and long snapper Zach Triner from the list.
A second-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2015, Smith has started all 13 games this season and 92 games in his career.
The job of protecting quarterback Tom Brady’s blind side will fall to veteran Josh Wells when the Buccaneers (8-5), who are chasing an NFC wild-card berth, visit the NFC South rival Falcons (4-9).
–Field Level Media