The Houston Texans didn't stay quiet this offseason after another postseason appearance. They made some changes along the roster, and that continued days before the NFL Draft.
On Friday afternoon, the Texans re-signed tight end Irv Smith Jr. to a one-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Free-agent tight end Irv Smith Jr. is signing back with the Houston Texans on a one-year contract, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 18, 2025
Irv Smith Jr. Re-Signed With the Houston Texans
Last September, Smith Jr. signed with the Texans' practice squad before getting signed to the active roster in December. Over five games, he logged 85 offensive snaps and 15 special teams snaps. He didn't record a single reception, but it looks like Houston likes what he brings to the table.
Smith Jr. entered the league as a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He spent three seasons with them before spending one season with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was also briefly on the Kansas City Chiefs. In 54 career games, Smith Jr. posted 109 receptions (152 targets) for 973 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Alabama product adds another athletic pass catcher to the tight end room. They are led by Dalton Schultz with Brevin Jordan, Cade Stover, and now Smith Jr.
He'll have his work cut out to make the 53-man roster, but it looks like he'll get a shot to prove himself during minicamp, OTAs, and training camp.
The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on April 24, and the Texans will use that as an asset to find more talent. They own seven total picks, including four picks in the Top 100.
Whether or not they will use any of those selections on another tight end remains to be seen. This draft class has a lot of depth at the position, so it wouldn't be a shocker if the Texans, in fact, added another TE to that room.