Who Should I Start? Irv Smith Jr. or Adam Trautman

Tuesday, August 27, 3:24 PM

The Kansas City Chiefs released former second-round tight end Irv Smith Jr. on Tuesday as they continue to cut their roster down ahead of the 2024 regular season. Smith will now be looking for a new team with less than two weeks before Week 1 kicks off. The 26-year-old was taken 50th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019 out of Alabama and has been a bust through his first four seasons, with last year coming with the Cincinnati Bengals. In his four NFL campaigns, Smith has caught 109 of his 152 targets for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns in 49 games played (21 starts). Injuries have gotten in the way, but he also just hasn't performed up to expectations. Behind All-Pro Travis Kelce, the Chiefs will head into the regular season with Noah Gray and rookie Jared Wiley providing them with depth at the position.

Friday, June 14, 5:08 PM

Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman (core) was held out of mandatory minicamp practices this week as a precaution due to a core-muscle injury. "Just being smart with his reps," head coach Sean Payton said. "He had core-muscle symptoms, which is basically a sprain. He didn't need surgery, so that's the good news. Nothing significant though." It sounds like it's an injury that won't keep Trautman sidelined for the start of training camp at the end of July. The 27-year-old re-signed with Denver in the offseason after catching 22 passes for 204 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in 17 games in his first year in Denver in 2023. Third-year tight end Greg Dulcich (foot) has had trouble staying on the field in his first two years in the NFL, but if he's healthy, he'll be the better bet for fantasy production in 2024 than Trautman.