Former Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. to sign one-year deal with Kansas City

Former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. is signing a one-year deal out of free agency with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. Smith spent the 2023 season with the Bengals after four years with the Minnesota Vikings.

Minnesota drafted him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He missed the 2021 season due to knee surgery, then appeared in eight games in 2022, totaling 25 receptions for 182 yards and two touchdowns. This year for the Bengals, he posted 18 receptions, 115 receiving yards and one touchdown which came in a November matchup against the Bills.

So far in his five-year NFL career, Smith has 109 receptions, 973 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. His last deal was for one year, $1.75 million. His rookie deal with the Vikings was for four years, $5.79 million.

Smith will turn 26 before the start of the 2024 NFL season. The season will be his sixth in the league and it will be with the Super Bowl LVIII champions.

Chiefs ink Chris Jones to mega-deal

The Kansas City Chiefs also put down a lot of money this week to keep star defensive tackle Chris Jones for the 2024 season and beyond. The new extension covers five years and includes $95 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It is the highest average salary ever paid out to a defensive tackle.

The former Mississippi State star is one of the best defenders in the NFL. He was named first-team All-Pro each of the past two seasons.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.