The Cincinnati Bengals added a new starter at tight end by signing Irv Smith Jr. in free agency.
Smith immediately slots into the starting role in Joe Burrow’s offense and could bring a fresh element to the position, so here’s a look at a profile.
Experience: 5 years (Round 2, 2019)
Age: 25
College: Alabama
2022 PFF Grade: 56.6
Numbers to Know: 91 catches, 858 yards and nine touchdowns over 37 games.
Resume and Outlook: Smith had previously been stuck in some run-first offenses and at times had problems staying on the field. But he’s Cincinnati’s latest rehab attempt at the position after Hayden Hurst. And he brings along with him what should be a more robust route tree, which means a bigger variety of looks for the position in the offense. It’s not unreasonable to expect he will similarly break out, if not even be the best player the team has had at the spot to date during the Burrow era.
Other 2023 Bengals player profiles:
| Position | Name |
| OL | Jaxson Kirkland |
| DE | Tarell Basham |
| RB | Chris Evans |
| DE | Jeff Gunter |
| P | Brad Robbins |
| LB | Jaylen Moody |
| TE | Drew Sample |
| QB | Trevor Siemian |
| DE | Cam Sample |
| CB | DJ Ivey |
| WR | Stanley Morgan |
| OL | Jackson Carman |
| P | Drue Chrisman |
| WR | Trent Taylor |
| S | Tycen Anderson |
| DT | Josh Tupou |
| RB | Chase Brown |
| WR | Charlie Jones |
| OT | Cody Ford |
