The Kansas City Chiefs are making their final preparations for the 2025 NFL Draft. But like most of the offseason, their rivals are still trying to catch up.
The Chiefs remain the toast of the AFC, making three straight Super Bowl appearances and grabbing five conference titles in the past six seasons. Kansas City also made light work of their conference rivals, going 14-2, including playoff wins over the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills last season. If you take out the Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos where the Chiefs rested their starters, that record improves to 14-1.
But while the Chiefs are at the top of the conference, their rivals are looking for an advantage. The signing of a former Chiefs player could help, as he made the decision to sign with an AFC foe late on Friday.
Former Chiefs TE Irv Smith Jr. Re-Signs With Texans
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans are re-signing tight end Irv Smith Jr. to a one-year contract. A former second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2019 draft, Smith battled injuries over his first four seasons before signing a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. After catching 18 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, Smith signed with the Chiefs last offseason but was released in the final roster cuts.
Smith signed with the Texans a few weeks after his departure from Kansas City and was promoted to the active roster in December. But the 26-year-old didn’t catch a pass in five games for the Texans and tested the market before returning to Houston this season.
The former Chief has an uphill battle to make the roster, however, as Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan and Cade Stover are all listed ahead of him entering the draft. A strong rookie class could also create more competition as the Texans may look for an extra weapon for C.J. Stroud.
For a team that primarily plays one tight end, the Chiefs were in good shape without Smith as Travis Kelce returns for another season. With Noah Gray, 2024 fourth-round pick Jared Wiley, Anthony Firkser, and Baylor Cupp on the roster, Kansas City has plenty of depth for another run toward a conference title, leaving Smith and the Texans trying to keep up.