Kansas City Chiefs should look at Irv Smith Jr. in 2019 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs will have a need at tight end this offseason. Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr. could be an intriguing name to keep an eye on through the process leading up to the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs roster is set to for disruption after this season by free agency and the tight end position is no exception. Current backup Demetrius Harris is set to be a free agent this season and there is no other tight end on the roster that has caught an NFL pass.

Deon Yelder is currently listed as third on the depth chart at a very important position in the Chiefs offense. Brett Veach and the Chiefs may look at a tight end such as Irv Smith Jr in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Also set to be free agents after this season are wide receivers Chris Conley and Kelvin Benjamin along with De’Anthony Thomas, who is currently listed on injured reserve. Between these possible departures along with Harris, there is a bunch of offensive production uncertainty not under contract for the 2019 season.

Anthony Sherman, the fullback extraordinaire, is also set to be a free agent. Do the Chiefs use money on a fullback for the running game?

Another factor is that star tight end Travis Kelce will turn 30 during the 2019 season after completing his sixth season in the NFL.  For those reasons, we explore Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr.

Smith may simply be the most complete tight end prospect available in the upcoming draft. He’ s the son of former NFL tight end Irv Smith and is a playmaker at tight end for the Crimson Tide.

The 6’4″ tight end has compiled 795 receiving yards and ten touchdowns during the past two seasons including 40 receptions during this season. He has lined up both on the line in the traditional tight end formations as well as splitting out wide in the slot in a wide receiver formation.

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Smith has also lined up a few times in almost a fullback position, versatility that only increases his ability to contribute.

It should be noted that Alabama is known primarily as a rushing team as both Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris are NFL (and Chiefs) draft prospects.

As Chiefs fans have seen, a tight end that can run block is valuable in both opening running lanes and providing extra protection for the quarterback in pass blocking. Smith proves to be more than capable as a blocker, both in the run game and the pass game.

Many fans believe the Chiefs will draft only defense this year after this version of the defense has been worse than last year’s attempt to play defense. However, the offensive side of the ball cannot be ignored. There are legitimate depth concerns at running back (only Damien Williams and Darryl Williams are under contract for next season) along with the lack of depth at tight end.

Adding a top shelf tight end prospect at the top of the draft allows the Kansas City Chiefs to work both sides of the field with tight end with a prospect that can play alongside Travis Kelce before it comes time to replace the star.

If the offense can be better by running the ball and controlling the clock and the ball, the entire team is better. Irv Smith Jr can do that for the Chiefs and can do that for years to come.

When the Kansas City Chiefs’ spot comes up in round one of the 2019 NFL Draft, this is a name that should be part of the discussion.