The more the merrier when it comes to offensive tackles hitting free agency for the Cincinnati Bengals to pursue.

All signs point to the Bengals adding a veteran right tackle to either start for just 2024, or for multiple years if the match is right. Having history with offensive line coach Frank Pollack is a variable that should not be ignored in this process. 

Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith and New York Jets tackle Mekhi Becton both fit the bill as former Pollack players, but does one make more sense than the other? 

Smith is officially on track to be a free agent after over a decade of dominance in Dallas. Becton is likely on his way out of the Big Apple after never reaching the extremely high ceiling he was labeled with. Reuniting one of them with Pollack would go a long way in advancing the Bengals through the offseason.

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Tyron Smith & Mekhi Becton's History With Bengals OL Coach Frank Pollack

Pollack was the Cowboys' assistant OL coach from 2013-14 and was the head OL coach from 2015-17. Those were the prime years for Dallas' offensive line that featured not one, not two, but three All-Pro caliber players literally leading the charge. Smith was flanked by right guard Zack Martin and Travis Frederick inside for all those years.

In between his initial joining the Bengals in 2018 and returning in 2021, Pollack coached the New York Jets' o-line and got to work with Becton, whom the Jets selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Becton was considered a raw player out of college with immense potential, and that potential immediately flashed under Pollack's tutelage. His rookie season featured a few duds mixed in-between high quality outings in pass protection.  

There's an established level of trust between the Bengals and Pollack. It's why the club brought him back after the doomed Jim Turner experiment, and kept him around despite continued struggles up front. It's why they trusted him in 2022 by signing La'el Collins, who also played with Smith in Dallas under Pollack, to a multi-year deal loaded with per-game bonuses. 

Collins' time in Cincinnati was short, but that had more to do with a season-ending injury that ultimately made him unavailable for the 2023 season. If there's another former pupil of his that makes sense, they won't avoid it because the last reunion didn't pan out.

Pros & Cons of Bengals Pursuing Tyron Smith

Somehow, Smith is still about as good as he was a decade ago at the age of 33. He posted the third-highest pass blocking grade of his career from Pro Football Focus this past season, and the tape backs it up. His protection was integral in Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's MVP-caliber year.  

What more of a sales pitch does one need for Bengals QB Joe Burrow?

Smith would come in an immediately be the Bengals' best offensive lineman. Better than both Alex Cappa and Ted Karras, whom they signed in 2022, and better than Orlando Brown Jr., their blockbuster left tackle signing in 2023. No need to say more.

While it may not sound like a negative, Smith still being this good so late in his career might prevent the Bengals from signing him altogether.

Smith is set to be the best offensive tackle available on the open market. His leverage will reflect that in multiple ways. 

For starters, he's going to get paid a good chunk of change. A to Z Sports salary cap experts Josh Queipo and Kyle Dediminicantanio project Smith to reel in a two-year, $25 million contract with $15 million guaranteed. Would the Bengals hand over that much dough to yet another veteran offensive lineman? They paid Brown over $30 million in cash last year alone and owe him, Cappa, and Karras over $22 million in cash this year.

Smith is also a career left tackle, and he might only consider destinations that will allow him to play that spot. The Bengals gave Brown exactly what he wanted by declaring him their franchise left tackle. Going back on that a year later is out of the question. 

Smith has at least played right tackle before and even repped there last year. Perhaps the idea of playing under his former coach would convince him to make the full-time switch. But whether or not he's on the left edge, Smith's upcoming contract will lock him in a starting job at least for 2024, and that might also be a problem for Cincinnati. 

Everyone and their mother knows the Bengals are looking at offensive tackles in this year's NFL Draft class. If we all know it, agents of available tackles know it as well. Part of negotiations with the Bengals will involve a conversation on if their client's playing time will be impacted by an incoming early-round rookie. 

Something to note: free agents will know the bengals will be targeting a tackle in the draft from their agents. Obviously an onwenu signing would make that irrelevant, but it could limit them in attracting an older option who wants a sure starting job outside. https://t.co/QWBezZL5vM

— John Sheeran (@John__Sheeran) March 2, 2024

The Bengals can still draft a right tackle of the future despite going all-in on Smith, but unless he gets injured, his contract will force their hand to play him for the duration of his contract. 

Injuries are the other important factor to consider here. Smith missed four games last year due to injury and hasn't played a full regular season since 2016. His durability concerns have kept him from being a true equal to Trent Williams, and ultimately could be the reason why Dallas is letting him go now.

Coincidentally, this is part of the conversation with Becton.

Pros & Cons of Bengals Pursuing Mekhi Becton

The difference in markets for Smith and Becton will be vast. Becton is entering his age 25 season and has yet to truly prove himself as a stable starting option. His most recent tape may keep others away entirely.

Becton was the second-most penalized lineman in the NFL in 2023, with 18(!) flags thrown his direction. He had disaster-classes early and late in the season against quality pass rushers such as Demarcus Lawrence of the Cowboys and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.

The lone positive of last season for Becton was it the first full season of his career. He started for most of 2020, under Pollack's watch, and actually strung together quality performances as a rookie. He suffered a season-ending knee injury during Week 1 of the 2021 season, and never played a down in 2022 thanks to another knee injury suffered right before the season. 

Spending most of your career rehabbing injuries instead of playing football is a nightmare for development, and it will make him much more affordable for the Bengals to sign compared to Smith. That's always going to be a positive. 

Becton will not only be (relatively) cheap to sign as a starter, he can't possibly command a guaranteed starting gig upon signing. His injury history is too dangerous for any team to not consider alternatives. This makes him an ideal starter to pencil in at right tackle leading up to the draft, and adjust accordingly depending on how the draft plays out.

In that same vein, his leverage to stay on the left side is also minuscule. He's played two career games at right tackle, for what it's worth. If Pollack got quality play out of him once, there's reason to believe a position change won't be the end of the world for him now.

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Final Verdict

The Bengals securing Smith to protect Burrow for a Super Bowl run would be quite impressive, but they will be far from the only team interested in him. Smith can land elsewhere to play his natural spot at left tackle and chase a ring (cough-cough-Kansas City Chiefs), or even link up with his other former OL coach, Bill Callahan, and fill the Tennessee Titans' massive need at left tackle. His options will be plentiful.

Becton makes more practical sense due to his more limited market, and fewer complications with addressing the position long-term in tandem with him. Bringing him in on a cheap one-year deal fits more of what the Bengals may be comfortable spending with other free agent needs on the roster.