Measurements

Height : 6-foot-2

Weight : 242

Arms : 31-1/2 inches

Hands: 9-1/2 inches

Combine results

40-yard dash : 4.63 seconds

Bench press (225 lbs) : 19 reps

Vertical jump : 32.5 inches

Broad jump : 110 inches

3-cone : 7.32 seconds

20-yard shuttle : 4.33 seconds

60-yard shuttle: 12.44 seconds

Stats

Pros

Irv Smith, Jr. brings some good blocking ability to whichever team drafts him. He has solid hand placement and good footwork when driving as a blocker. He can be used as the primary lead blocker on the ground with his blocking ability.

Smith drives and churns his legs to drive through contact both as a blocker and after the catch. His speed is good enough to create separation and he has a solid burst out of breaks to help as well. Linebackers in coverage will be put in a mismatch against Smith because of his speed and burst.

His route tree is very well developed unlike most tight ends coming out of college. Smith is tough and works the middle of the field really well. He has strong hands and will post up defenders to block them from getting to the ball and disrupt the catch. When it comes to jump balls, he competes hard to come away with the ball.

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Cons

Irv Smith, Jr. isn’t the most agile tight end, which hurts him when trying to pick up yards after the catch. He slows into breaks, which isn’t ideal as you want to keep your speed into your breaks and burst out of it. His hands aren’t natural which has caused some issues.

When he has to work back to the throw he is inconsistent. His routes aren’t sharp and he rounds his breaks and cuts, which makes it even worse that he slows into them. He has heavy feet which isn’t as bad as a blocker as it is as a receiver.

Smith will need to improve his play speed and be more consistent. His frame is good, but he has room for more mass which is badly needed. When it comes to his effort, especially as a blocker, it needs to be consistent and not as hot and cold as it was at Alabama.

Overview

Irv Smith, Jr. posted some poor numbers during athletic testing and is slightly undersized for the NFL tight end position. Teams will want to work on bulking up on that frame, but he may be more limited in the NFL than he was in college.

Smith may be asked to be more of a blocker early in his career, but he will need to show better effort or end up in the doghouse. There is potential as a receiver, but he may not be that TE1 that teams are wanting with bad limitations both as a blocker and a receiver.

Fit with the Broncos

The Broncos have an abundance of potential No. 2 and 3 tight ends, so they need to find a guy who can be a consistent threat as a receiver and really stretch the seam. Irv Smith, Jr. just may not be that guy for them. He best projects as a TE2 and the Broncos need more than that.

Outside of that issue, Smith does fit the Broncos' scheme really well but it would take a lot of improvements for him to be that TE1 that Denver needs.

My grade: Mid-second round

Where he goes: Late-second round