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Denver Broncos: Tight ends to consider early in the 2019 Draft

By Sayre Bedinger

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Tight ends Noah Fant #87 and T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate a touchdown during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Tight ends Noah Fant #87 and T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate a touchdown during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Irv Smith Jr. #82 of the Alabama Crimson Tide carries the ball against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Irv Smith Jr. #82 of the Alabama Crimson Tide carries the ball against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Irv Smith Jr., Alabama Crimson Tide

Irv Smith Jr. is the son of former New Orleans Saints tight end Irv Smith, and a pretty darn good legacy at that.

The Alabama tight end filled in after OJ Howard graduated to the NFL and racked up 710 yards on 44 catches (16.1 per catch) and seven touchdowns in 2018.

Here are his Scouting Combine measurements:

Height: 6-2 3/8
Weight: 242 pounds
Hand: 9 4/8
Wingspan: 74 7/8
40-yard dash: 4.63

Just based on Smith’s size here, he has the look of the ‘move’ tight end, similar to what we’ve seen a guy like Jordan Reed become in the NFL. He doesn’t have the ideal measurables for an NFL tight end but he can play a critical role for some team’s passing game.

Here’s a really random dot for you to connect: Smith’s father played for the Saints with some overlap during the time Vic Fangio was their linebackers coach way back when.

Next. Broncos seven-round Scouting Combine mock draft. dark

If Smith is there in round two, the Broncos might have a tough time passing on him. He’s a mismatch in the passing game but is he strong enough as an in-line blocker for Elway to take him that high?

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