{"id":89356,"date":"2024-03-13T16:30:51","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T16:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nflklinh.playsetmusic.com\/?p=89356"},"modified":"2024-03-13T16:36:04","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T16:36:04","slug":"the-first-external-signing-of-kansas-citys-free-agency-has-skills-to-contribute-to-the-passing-attack-kieu-linh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/the-first-external-signing-of-kansas-citys-free-agency-has-skills-to-contribute-to-the-passing-attack-kieu-linh\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Irv Smith Jr brings upside to the Chiefs\u2019 tight end room"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"c-entry-hero c-entry-hero--default \">\n<div class=\"c-group-disclosure-ecomm\">\n<p><em>If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our\u00a0ethics statement.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/irp.cdn-website.com\/dca6e277\/dms3rep\/multi\/Irv+Smith.JPG\" alt=\"Chiefs kick off free agency with signing of Smith Jr.\" width=\"907\" height=\"605\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After a quiet Day 1 of free agency, the\u00a0Kansas City Chiefs\u00a0finally added a player to their pool of pass catchers on Day 2: tight end Irv Smith Jr.<\/p>\n<p>Well, that wasn\u2019t\u00a0necessarily\u00a0the name people were looking for as far as offensive weapons go. Still, the tight end formerly of the\u00a0Cincinnati Bengals\u00a0and\u00a0Minnesota Vikings\u00a0does have receiving skills. It\u2019s what made him an intriguing draft prospect out of Alabama in the 2019 class, selected by Minnesota with the 50th overall pick.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-social-buttons c-social-buttons--popover main-social\" data-cid=\"site\/social_buttons_list\/popover-1710346455_6713_416047\" data-cdata=\"{&quot;entry_id&quot;:23863247,&quot;services&quot;:[&quot;twitter&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;,&quot;reddit&quot;,&quot;pocket&quot;,&quot;flipboard&quot;,&quot;email&quot;],&quot;base_url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.arrowheadpride.com\/2024\/3\/13\/24099206\/chiefs-free-agency-irv-smith-jr-upside-kansas-city&quot;}\">\n<p id=\"WXiqDD\">Five years later, the 25-year-old is looking to revive his career in one of the best situations possible for any offensive player. Here\u2019s a closer look at Smith and his potential impact in Kansas City:<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"ZyOEvF\"><strong>How he got here<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In Smith\u2019s second NFL season, he emerged with the Vikings as a complementary threat to wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. He was\u00a0third on the team in receiving yards (365) and touchdowns (5).<\/p>\n<p>Going into his third year in 2021, Smith\u00a0tore his meniscus late in the preseason. That sidelined him for the entire season, and an ankle injury cut his bounce-back year in 2022 in half.<\/p>\n<p>After two injury-plagued campaigns, Smith signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati last offseason. As a Bengal, he managed just\u00a0115 yards and one touchdown over 18 receptions, missing five games throughout the schedule due to injury.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Pb5INa\"><strong>On-field analysis<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p id=\"JMfaDn\">In Cincinnati, Smith was primarily used flexed out in a receiver alignment \u2014 either the slot or isolated;\u00a0only 47% of his pass snaps came from an in-line position. This allowed him to get into routes without contact off the line.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Chiefs<\/a> are adding receiving upside to the TE room by signing Irv Smith Jr<\/p>\n<p>The 25 y\/o has always had natural talent as a receiver, going 50th overall in the &#39;19 class at 6&#39;2&quot; \/ 242 lb<\/p>\n<p>Flashes the playmaking on this TD, blowing by Jordan Poyer here on a Corner route <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/82ok63Omj6\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/82ok63Omj6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Ron_Kopp\/status\/1767737253701312586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p id=\"URdTrk\">Smith can be a mismatch in the slot against the right defender.<\/p>\n<p id=\"PRDbBy\">Here,\u00a0Buffalo Bills\u00a0safety Jordan Poyer is in man coverage against Smith, playing shaded toward the outside to prevent a corner route. Smith has a quick fake in but releases to the corner \u2014 and does it all so quickly that Poyer can\u2019t keep his angle over the top.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1OknQG\">The speed at which he runs the route is unique for a tight end. It\u2019s also worth noting the comfort in which he high points the ball and completes the score; not many reserve tight ends will be that natural tracking passes over their shoulder.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Smith had very limited usage in his 1 yr with Cincy, but he flashed his YAC ability over his 18 rec<\/p>\n<p>He&#39;s very quick to get upfield after the catch, which helps maximize zone-beating throws<\/p>\n<p>KC can attack base-down pass coverages a lot more if drop Smith in Bell&#39;s spot from &#39;23 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gy46RxhKoy\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/gy46RxhKoy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Ron_Kopp\/status\/1767746165976481884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p id=\"627Ilw\">However, Smith\u2019s most constant impact on an offense is maximizing yards after catch on shorter throws. His speed and quickness show up as he goes from a pass catcher to a ball carrier; he turns upfield fast after hook routes and is nimble enough in the open field to squeeze more yards out of catches between zone defenders.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"CcjDsn\"><strong>How he fits with the Chiefs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p id=\"TDUXEk\">Smith immediately becomes the third tight end on the Chiefs\u2019 depth chart, filling the role vacated by unrestricted free agent Blake Bell. The swap does not come with similar-style players; Bell\u2019s strengths with the team were blocking on run and pass plays.<\/p>\n<p id=\"J7FQdV\">On plays where Smith would accompany tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Gray in a formation, the offense should be more dangerous throwing the ball than it was with Bell. His 2023 player profile did not put as much stress on linebackers and safeties to cover as it would with a bigger threat.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6fa7xi\">It remains to be seen if Smith is that bigger threat. He has much to prove as a player in his fifth offseason, and the Chiefs could still address the position through the draft. The minimal contract indicates that Smith will need to earn his role with the team, looking to make an impact similar to Jody Fortson.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our\u00a0ethics statement. After a quiet Day 1 of free agency, the\u00a0Kansas&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89356"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89356\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nfluyen.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}