LT Donovan Smith
One of the keys for a developing quarterback is finding a reliable protector for his blindside. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers don’t have the answer for Jameis Winston just yet.
The franchise hoped they found it when they selected left tackle Donovan Smith back in 2015, but Smith hasn’t developed into the player many thought he could be. Inconsistent play and his knack for allowing easy pressures has made him an easy target for the Buccaneers fan base.
With Smith’s contract up at the end of the season, Tampa Bay will have to decide if he deserves a long-term deal. Smith will likely garner plenty of interest this offseason, but the Bucs may not want to pay him top tackle money.
They already have a substantial chunk of their cap invested in Ali Marpet and Ryan Jensen, so paying another flawed player elite money may not be in the cards.
Even with Smith’s flaws, other free agent options don’t look much more appealing. The fact that there is only one top-tier left tackle prospect in the Draft, Tampa could bite the bullet and give Smith another shot.