Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. has been solid for Minnesota in his rookie season.
The second-round pick out of Alabama has 28 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown. While those numbers might not jump out, it’s worth noting that Smith is doing this behind Kyle Rudolph on the roster.
His performance has earned him a spot on NFL.com’s 2019 Offensive All-Rookie Team.
Here’s a snippet of what was written about Smith:
It’s a major upset that neither Iowa Hawkeyes standout claimed this spot, but Denver’s Noah Fant has been one of the most mistake-prone starters at any position and Detroit’s T.J. Hockenson wasn’t much better before landing on injured reserve with an ankle ailment sustained on Thanksgiving Day. Smith has been better than advertised as a blocker while helping to fill the receiving void left by Pro Bowl wideout Adam Thielen’s extended absence due to a hamstring injury.
Smith has a Pro Football Focus grade of 66.9, a mark that ranks 24th among tight ends in the NFL.
