Former Chief Suddenly a Premium Free-Agent Target After Week 1

The Kansas City Chiefs made significant additions to their offensive playmakers this past offseason. The acquisitions of Hollywood Brown and Samaje Perine and the drafting of Xavier Worthy understandably received a ton of attention. One move that went under the radar was GM Brett Veach making a change at left tackle. The Chiefs moved on from veteran Donovan Smith and replaced him with rookie Kingsley Suamataia.

Suamataia was the second-round draft pick of the Chiefs and immediately became a starter from Week 1. Donovan Smith, on the other hand, is still surprisingly available on the free-agent market.

That, however, may not last long. After seeing their teams struggling to protect their quarterback, fanbases around the league have identified Smith as a potential free agent signing after Week 1.

After eight seasons and a Super Bowl win in Tampa Bay, Smith joined the Chiefs in the 2023 offseason. As a starter in 12 regular season and four postseason games, the 31-year-old was a major contributor to last season's success. His performance on the field, however, was never entirely satisfactory. His overall PFF grade of 55.4 for the 2023 campaign underlined his struggles.

Watching some of the offensive lines in Week 1 made it clear that there is still a place for Smith in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams are offensive tackle-needy teams who could use an experienced veteran like Smith as they chase the postseason. As an example, the Browns' offensive line allowed six sacks to the Cowboys' defense in their season opener.

The New England Patriots also had to make a change at left tackle mid-game in Week 1 but two-time Super Bowl winner Smith may not be interested in joining a young and rebuilding team.

Smith wasn't the right choice for the Chiefs as they had an excellent opportunity to upgrade at left tackle at the draft. However, the former Penn State standout will likely not have to wait for much longer to sign with a team.

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