Former Penn State standout Donovan Smith reportedly cashes in with new contract

Former Penn State left tackle Donovan Smith has had a good couple of months. In February, he won Super Bowl XLV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And Wednesday, he reportedly agreed to a lucrative contract extension to continue to protect Tom Brady’s blindside.

Smith and the Bucs agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $31.8 million, ESPN reported Wednesday morning. The deal runs through 2023 and includes $30 million guaranteed over the next two seasons. According to ESPN, Smith is now set to make $57 million guaranteed.

Smith started 15 games for the Bucs in 2020 and played 90 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. He didn’t miss a snap during the four-game playoff run, which culminated in a 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7.

Smith has yet to make a Pro Bowl in his six-year NFL career, but since Tampa Bay drafted him with the No. 34 overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Smith has started 94 of a possible 96 games for the Bucs.

Smith has made some good money in his career. In 2019, he signed a three-year contract extension worth more than $41 million with the Buccaneers. His signing by Tampa Bay is just the latest move to keep the core of the Super Bowl team together from general manager Jason Licht.

Smith arrived at Penn State as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2011. He became a starter in 2012, and he started 31 games over three seasons before leaving for the NFL draft.