The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a second consecutive Super Bowl win, with tight end Travis Kelce playing a huge role in the playoffs.
However, during the regular season, there were times when Kelce looked tired and beat up. The Chiefs love going in 12 and 13 personnel and have already seen tight end Jody Fortson leave for the Miami Dolphins in free agency.
They needed depth at the tight end position, so the team brought in former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr.
Here is a look at what the Chiefs are getting in Smith.
Who Is New Chiefs TE Irv Smith Jr.?
Smith played college football at Alabama, where he was a member from 2016-18. After not catching a pass in his first year, he had only 14 catches for 128 yards and three touchdowns.
However, he became a big part of the Alabama offense in his third year. He had 44 catches for 710 yards and seven touchdowns. He won a national title during the 2017 season and decided to skip his senior year and enter the NFL Draft.
During the Combine, he ran a 4.63 40-yard dash, which is impressive for a 6-foot-2, 240-pound tight end. With that display of athleticism, Minnesota decided to take him with the No. 50 pick in the 2019 draft.
Smith’s Contract Details
Smith signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal to be in Kansas City. The Chiefs have Kelce on their roster, while Noah Gray has proven to be a more than capable backup tight end.
At only 25 years old, you would think there would be a bigger market for Smith. However, he has had to deal with a ton of injuries throughout his career. In his rookie season, he played in all 16 games for the Vikings while playing in 13 in his second year.
However, he has played in only 20 games in the last three years, including missing all of 2021 due to a meniscus injury.
With Kelce currently 34 years old, the Chiefs are going to be looking to figure out the tight end position moving forward. This gives the Chiefs depth and allows Smith to prove he can stay healthy and potentially get a long-term deal next season.
Smith’s Career Stats
Smith entered the NFL as a guy the Vikings thought could be a valuable part of the offense. In his first two years, he did put up some numbers.
His rookie season saw him have a career-high 36 catches for 311 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up with 30 catches and career-highs with 365 yards and five touchdowns.
However, the injuries started to become an issue, as he played in only eight games the next two years for Minnesota.
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Last year, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals but had only 18 receptions for 115 yards and one score.
Playing with the Chiefs gives him another opportunity to show he still has a role in the NFL. One area in which he has been better in the NFL than expected is blocking. The Chiefs are going to have three tight ends on the field, and there should be opportunities for him to prove his worth.
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