Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals May Finally Get Their Tight End After the Atlanta Falcons’ Shocking Release

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Christian Alamodin | Last updated Feb 27, 2024 11:30 PM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals need to address a lot of problem areas to be competitive in the AFC North. While some of the team’s struggles had to do with Joe Burrow‘s unavailability, it’s clear to Zac Taylor that the team needs to step their game up in finding the best weapons for him.

One of their weaker areas was at tight end, where Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample didn’t just do enough to be impactful. Fortunately for them, they might have finally found their man as one NFC South team decided to let go of a capable tight end.

Cincinnati Bengals to swoop on Jonnu Smith after Atlanta Falcons release

It’s been reported by All Bengals’ Russ Heltman that Jonnu Smith would be a possible upgrade on the TE position after the Atlanta Falcons decided to let him go in the offseason.

The news, which was first broken by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, will see the 28-year-old be without a team after bouncing around several teams in the NFL.

Heltman wrote about the rationale for Smith’s release and what he can bring to the table for the Bengals:

Smith posted solid counting stats as one of the Falcons’ weapons but has had a few down years as a blocker (sub-57 PFF run block grade each of the past two seasons). Cincinnati could bring him in as a solid veteran, along with a Drew Sample return and a young tight end in the draft.

Smith has been very durable (540-plus snaps in five of seven career seasons) and he hasn’t played with a great quarterback.

Despite playing with Desmond Ridder for much of 2023, Smith posted career highs in passing yards (582), first downs (26), catch rate (71.4%), yards per game (34.2), and total touches (51).

If the Cincinnati Bengals manage to land him and pair him up with Joe Burrow, they could find themselves with the biggest steal of the 2024 offseason.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: