TAMPA, Fla. — The worst performance of Donovan Smith’s career, combined with salary-cap issues has led to the Bucs’ decision to release the left tackle after eight seasons.
Smith, 29, signed a signed a two-year, $31.8 million extension in March 2021. But the Bucs will save $9.95 million on the salary cap by parting ways with him.
A second-round pick from Penn State in 2015, Smith missed only two games and started 124 in eight seasons with the Bucs. But he suffered a hyperextended elbow in the season-opening win Sept. 11 at Dallas. That may have contributed to a forgettable year in which he was second in the NFL for the most accepted penalties with 12 for a league-high 100 yards. Two of his holding calls took away touchdowns. He allowed a team-high six sacks.
