Jets GM expresses excitement to add Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs officially waved goodbye to veteran offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif after seven-plus years with the team when they traded him to the New York Jets for tight end Dan Moore.

While the move made sense from an on-field perspective, given that Duvernay-Tardif’s typical position as a starting right guard had been claimed by rookie Trey Smith, it was still a bit sad to see the Chiefs unload a player with such a tremendous story of growth and development, of character and hard work. Those qualities are exactly why Jets general manager Joe Douglas was so excited to get him.

Douglas spoke to reporters at a press conference after the trade deadline about the state of the team and his reasons for trading for Duvernay-Tardif. It’s clear that he’s as excited about LDT’s intangible as he is any potential on-field contributions to the roster.

The Jets GM praised Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s intangibles.

“It’s an opportunity to add a Super Bowl champion to the room,” said Douglas. “You guys know how I feel about the offensive and defensive line—and obviously quarterback, I’ve touched on that. If there’s an opportunity to improve those rooms, any room, we’re going to do it. LDT brings that championship pedigree, a high-character person, obviously a very smart guy. Can’t wait to get him in here and see him compete.”

The Chiefs certainly aren’t lacking in players with Super Bowl experience on the roster, nor are they void of bodies in the trenches given the presence of even “extra” options such as Mike Remmers, Austin Blythe, Kyle Long, Nick Allegretti, and Andrew Wylie.

Duvernay-Tardif was the sixth-round pick of the Chiefs back in the 2014 NFL Draft and became the starting right guard in front of Alex Smith in 2015, a position he held until he opted out of the 2020 season to serve on front lines with medical workers in order to treat COVID-19 patients back in his native Montreal. LDT, who turned 30 early this year, started 57 games over five seasons with the Chiefs