Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are excited about new tight end Irv Smith Jr. Many Bengals fans felt the team needed more to improve the tight end situation this offseason. This is the second year in a row that Cincinnati has seen its starting player leave via free agency.
The Bengals have a new face after signing Irv Smith Jr., a former Minnesota Viking, to a one-year contract before the draught. His teammates have been complimentary thus far.
Joe Burrow, the team’s quarterback, thinks highly of him.
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Burrow’s dedication to mastering the game and watching footage is something that his teammates have repeatedly praised. Suppose he’s trying to give credit where credit is due. This is an encouraging indicator.
Since everyone is still wearing shorts to practice, the two have yet to have many opportunities to develop a natural rapport, but it’s an excellent first step if you know what Burrow is looking for from the playbook.
However, that wasn’t the end of the compliments. Smith and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase go way back to high school, but Smith is more impressed by what he has seen from Chase in the game.
“Irv and I used to work out in high school together, the same trainer,” Chase told Mike Petraglia of the Jungle Roar Podcast. “Our history is profound. It was great to see Irv out there on the pitch again. It’s nice to meet a fellow New Orleanian.
I have a complete understanding of his abilities. We’ve been rivals since high school and college, and he’s good with the ball in his hands and can make a play because I’ve seen him in action. He’s got YAC. A man who attacks him will most likely miss. He’s slower than the typical tight end. Also, he’s an astute player. And that all comes into play in his game.
Smith settled in well. He’s in a solid position to succeed. Burrow has now assisted financially in the free agency of two consecutive tight ends, and in Smith, we see much of what we saw in Hayden Hurst upon his arrival in Cincinnati.
Hurst played in only 13 games but had 52 receptions for 414 yards. Despite being replaced by Kyle Pitts with the Atlanta Falcons, he still managed to have a solid season.
After the Vikings acquired T.J. Hockenson at last year’s trade deadline, Smith was sent to the Bengals. Smith has had seasons where he accumulated more than 300 yards. That could be better since Smith projected high hopes for him after selecting him in the second round.
However, the offense would benefit significantly from scoring between 400 and 500 points. They need someone who can beat defenders in one-on-one situations, and he can do that.
