Irv Smith Jr.'s contract with Bengals is very team-friendly
The details of Irv Smith Jr.'s contract with the Cincinnati Bengals have been revealed. Per ESPN's Field Yates, Smith signed a one-year deal worth up to $2 million, with a base value of $1.75 million. A year after paying tight end Hayden Hurst about $3.5 million for the 2022 season, the Bengals are getting a […]
The details of Irv Smith Jr.'s contract with the Cincinnati Bengals have been revealed.
Per ESPN's Field Yates, Smith signed a one-year deal worth up to $2 million, with a base value of $1.75 million.
A year after paying tight end Hayden Hurst about $3.5 million for the 2022 season, the Bengals are getting a younger option at the position for half the cost.
The exact details of Smith's deal are still unknown, but we can discern that his 2023 salary cap hit will be $1.75 million. Additionally, $250,000 in incentives are included, with them likely being not likely to be earned (NLTBE).
NLTBE incentives are based on how said player performed the season prior. Considering Smith only played in just eight games last year, the Bengals can add per game incentives that add up to a specific amount, but less than half of the total is counted on this year's cap sheet since he played less than half of the regular season last year.
Other incentives such as receiving yards and touchdowns could also be included in the deal.
An incentive-laden deal makes sense for Smith. The 24-year old tight end is looking to shine in the Bengals' offense with Joe Burrow as his quarterback, and then hit the open market next year to earn a larger deal, still in his mid-20s. Meanwhile, the Bengals don't have to invest too much cash in a player who's suffered two season-ending injuries in as many years.
The contract puts the Bengals at approximately $16 million in top-51 offseason cap space.
