Free agency was a roller coaster ride for the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. In the early going, they were hit hard by defections. Safeties Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell both left Cincinnati, signing with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. Tight end Hayden Hurst also left, joining Bell in Carolina.
Down but not out, the Bengals did a good job of filling those holes. Safety Nick Scott was signed away from the Los Angeles Rams and cornerback Sidney Jones was signed away from the Las Vegas Raiders to shore up the secondary.
On offense is where the Bengals made their biggest splash. They signed left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. away from the Kansas City Chiefs and added Cody Ford from the Arizona Cardinals for more offensive line depth. They also found a replacement for Hurst in the form of Irv Smith Jr.
Smith is coming to Cincinnati from the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent the first four seasons of his career. He began breaking out in Year 2 and was set for a big Year 3 before an injury cost him the entire 2021 campaign.
Smith got back on the field for eight games in 2022, but the Vikings made a trade for tight end T.J. Hockenson from the Detroit Lions. The writing was on the wall for Smith once that move was made, as he hit free agency looking for a new home.
The Bengals have provided him with that and Smith will have a chance to play a prominent role. Hurst had a good season in Cincinnati in 2022 and Smith should step right into that role. He is extremely confident that he will find success as well, making a bold proclamation upon joining the team.
That is certainly a bold statement for Smith to make. The Bengals have been very close to winning a Super Bowl the last two seasons, as they lost to the Rams to conclude the 2021 season and lost to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game a few months ago.
Smith will certainly be relied upon as an important piece of the puzzle offensively. He will be tasked with taking pressure off of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and if he succeeds, the Bengals could very well be contending for a championship once again.
