Irv Smith Starting Tight End

[BFritz21]

(04-17-2023, 12:34 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: Who else would it be?? We have worst TE room in league right now.

(04-17-2023, 01:34 PM)depthchart Wrote: .

Agreed - The Bengals appear to me to be ready to add a Rookie to the Group with one of their first 3 picks.

Irv Smith's injury history should make the Bengals want to add to the Tight End room via the Draft.

Smith is only 24 years old, so he could be due a healthy stretch given his injuries were not overly serious. (torn meniscus/ankle)

During Smith's rookie season (with 16 game appearances and 6 starts) he had 36 catches for 311 yards and 2 TDs.

Last year Hayden Hurst had 52 catches for 414 yards and 2 touchdowns in 13 starts.

I think that a healthy Irv Smith can put up around 450 to 500 yards in 2023 while any rookie the Bengals take develops. If the Bengals take one of the first round Tight Ends then that rookie may take more & more playing time away from Irv as the season progresses.

I expect the Bengals will get this right and that we will see good Production from the Tight End Group in 2023 especially with Burrow throwing to them.

Agree with you two and that's why the OP confused me because who else would it be? 

Not only do we not have a solid starter, we don't even have too many solid options.

Hoping we draft Mayer.

(04-17-2023, 01:48 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Absolutely. 

Right now, Smith is the starting TE. Mixon is RB1. And Jonah is the starting RT. The draft could change that. As could releases, cuts, and trades.

Outside of Mayer, I am not sure any TE we draft walks into TE1. Kincaid has questionable blocking skills. Washington has questionable receiving skills. Kraft comes from a small school. Musgrave is coming off an injury. LaPorta is a touch undersized and was more explosive at the combine than on tape, though there is some wiggle & his QB didn't help him much. Strange & Kuntz are raw. Even if they end up winning TE1 in camp, they still have to prove it first. 
 

Exactly, and Kincaid seems like more of a slot guy. 

Depth charts right now are meaningless and could actually be just a smokescreen to throw teams off of our draft intentions.

We're in win-now mode and Mayer is the most well-rounded tight end in the class. 

Mixon's gone once we find a replacement, IMCO, and I'm hoping it's Zeke!

(04-17-2023, 03:38 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Today it almost sounded like Carman was RT per Zac.

On Smith:
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/04/17/zac-taylor-we-envision-irv-smith-jr-filling-the-role-hayden-hurst-had-for-us/

Like I said above, it's all smoke and mirrors right now but, if we had to make a decision right now, I think Carman starts at RT.