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Patriots should target this NFC South cap casualty to play LT

By Lou Scataglia

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots huddles with teammates during the game against the Miami Dolphins over the Patriots logo at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots huddles with teammates during the game against the Miami Dolphins over the Patriots logo at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are millions of dollars over the cap figure for 2023, and the Patriots should have their eyes on this projected released player.

The Buccaneers are expected to release longtime left tackle Donovan Smith by March 15th in a move to create some much needed salary cap space for the team.  With Tom Brady retiring and the Bucs being tens of millions over the cap, it’s obvious to see why the team might be headed toward a mini-rebuild.

Part of that rebuild is getting their cap space in check, and releasing some veteran players who have larger cap hits is a smart idea.

While the release has not been finalized, it’s likely coming.  Donovan Smith, the Bucs’ longtime left tackle, should hit the open market, and the Patriots could target him as a potential stopgap option or even if they get lucky, a long-term solution.

Smith was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft and has been their full-time starter at left tackle since then.  During his eight years in the NFL, Smith has missed just six games.  He’s available, and that’s the best ability.

Not only that, he’s played in 124 regular season games, so he’s experienced and will turn just 30 years old this summer.

He won a Super Bowl with the team in 2020 and has been, at the very least, reliable for his entire career.  He did have a career-worst year in 2022, but perhaps that’s because of the massive ineptness of the Bucs’ offense as a whole.

To me, Smith could be a very logical target for the Patriots at left tackle.  Trent Brown was not playing well at the position in 2022, so perhaps moving Brown back to right tackle, inserting Smith at left tackle, and targeting a tackle or two in the 2023 NFL Draft could be a nice solution for the team.

With a new offensive coordinator in town in Bill O’Brien, I think an offensive line of

  • LT: Donovan Smith
  • LG: Cole Strange
  • C: David Andrews
  • RG: Mike Onwenu
  • RT: Trent Brown

Could really hold their own.  On paper, it looks solid.  Now, even if the Pats were to target a veteran tackle like this, I still think they need to target a tackle or two in the draft.  It’s not likely that Smith or Brown are long-term solutions at this position, but I don’t see why they couldn’t be options at either position for a couple of years.

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