The Cincinnati Bengals have signed tight end Alex Smith according to Adam Schefter. Smith is an eight-year veteran who spent his last three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and should offer solid depth behind Jermaine Gresham.
NFL free agent tracker: Bengals sign TE Alex Smith
Cincinnati added a veteran backup tight end in free agent Alex Smith.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Last season Smith totaled 13 receptions for 47 yards in 12 games, but was used much more as a blocking tight end than as a receiving threat. Smith spent his first four seasons with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden in Tampa Bay. While working under Gruden with the Bucs, Smith was a much more effective receiver with 129 receptions for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons, but he will likely be used primarily as a blocker with the Bengals.
Smith will join Gresham, Richard Quinn, and Orson Charles in the Bengals' group of tight ends. Cincy Jungle points out that Quinn is a similar, but less decorated player when compared to Smith and predicts that Smith will fall into a role similar to what Reggie Kelly brought to the Bengals during his seven years in Cincinnati.
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