Done deal:Cincinnati Bengals complete Minnesota Vikings deal..

admin | December 7, 2023 | Cincinnati Bengals | No Comments

TE Irv Smith Jr., formerly of the Vikings, has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Smith, a second-round pick of the Vikings in 2019 out of Alabama, has a one-year contract.

Irv Smith Jr., a former tight end for the Vikings, is inking a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, as Peter Schrager reports. With a change of scenery, he hopes to revitalize his career by securing a spot on one of the top offensive teams in the league.

Smith, the 2019 second-round selection of the Vikings from Alabama, is only 24 years old as of the conclusion of his rookie contract. In August, he turns 25. Smith’s four years in Minnesota were erratic, and he may still have some of his best football left in him.

Smith was selected in the second round of the draft by the Vikings due to his combination of size and athleticism. During his tenure, Smith displayed glimpses of his potential to cause matchup problems. After Kyle Rudolph, he was the team’s second-string tight end for his first two seasons, averaging at least 30 catches, 300 yards, and seven touchdowns overall. Smith had an incredible training camp and seemed to be headed for a breakout 2021 season when he sustained a season-ending knee injury.

After recovering from his injury in 2022, Smith struggled with a few drops and finished the season with a 22-168-2 line in the first seven games. Then he hurt himself again, spraining his high ankle, which forced the Vikings to acquire T.J. Hockenson, who after a dominant second half has cemented himself as their starting tight end. Smith was never going to be back in 2023, even though he came back before the season ended and even caught a touchdown pass in Minnesota’s playoff loss. Josh Oliver, a superb blocker, was recently signed by the Vikings to play tight end alongside Hockenson.

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With Hayden Hurst’s departure, Smith may have a good chance to secure a position in Cincinnati. Tanner Hudson and Devin Asiasi are two players he will have to contend with for Bengals tight end snaps. Along with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Mixon, Smith has the athleticism to contribute to a potent Bengals offense if he can maintain his health and be a dependable hands player.

Vikings Trade for First-Round Pick of Bengals in Latest Mock Draft by Peter Schrager

CINCINNATI — In his most recent mock draft for NFL.com, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager has Cincinnati punting on a first-round selection.

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Hendon Hooker, the quarterback for Tennessee, is selected by the Vikings by moving up to No. 28.

Schrager wrote, “The Vikings trade back into the first round.””To select their quarterback of the future, the Bengals will be sending a third- (No. 87 overall) and fourth-round pick (119) in this year’s draft, along with a second- and fourth-round pick in 2024. While Hooker is still recuperating from his ACL tear sustained in November, Kirk Cousins is about to enter the last year of his contract. The Tennessee product’s age of 25 is less of a possible issue than the college-style offense in which he performed.”

Bengals supporters might wince at the idea of delaying their selection until the very end of the second round, but Cincinnati will benefit greatly from it in the short term.