On Sunday, we realized that the Miami Dolphins have launched former Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Jody Fortson.
In his newest roster projection on Friday, Arrowhead Pleasure’s Pete Sweeney predicted the group would preserve 4 tight ends on the 53-man roster cutdown, which have to be finished earlier than 3 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) on Tuesday.
Tight ends (4): Travis Kelce, Noah Grey, Jared Wiley, Irv Smith Jr.IN: Irv Smith Jr.
I’ve gone forwards and backwards on Smith all through these projections. On this last iteration, I’ve determined to incorporate him. Excluding Prince opened up a roster spot — one which I feel might go to Smith, because it permits Reid to get artistic with 4 tight ends on the sphere concurrently.
As soon as he lastly made the roster (after two seasons on the observe squad) Fortson spent 2021 and 2022 with the group. He missed the 2023 season on injured reserve earlier than being allowed to signal with the Miami Dolphins. So he now holds three Tremendous Bowl rings earned with the Chiefs.
It’s my opinion, the Chiefs ought to convey him again for a fourth.
A fast statistical comparability between Fortson and Irv Smith Jr. doesn’t painting Fortson as a really engaging choice to exchange the four-year veteran.
Stat Fortson Smith
Tgts 18 152
Recs 14 109
Yards 155 973
Yds/Tgt 8.6 6.4
1st Dwn 9 53
ADOT 7 5.8
Drop% 0.0% 4.6%
Price 142.1 105
However since Fortson has higher price statistics than Smith, a deeper look is so as. Smith has appeared in 49 video games over 4 seasons, whereas Fortson has simply 19 to his credit score. As well as, Smith has carried a a lot larger proportion of offensive snaps with the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. Smith has amassed 1,772 NFL snaps in comparison with Fortson’s 238.
Utilizing that ratio to place Fortson on the identical footing with Smith on their counting stats, we get this:
Stat Fortson Smith
Tgts 134 152
Recs 104 109
Yards 1155 973
Yds/Tgt 8.6 6.4
1st Dwn 67 53
ADOT 7 5.8
Drop% 0.0% 4.6%
Rat 142.1 105
It’s affordable to ask if Fortson can stay wholesome sufficient to play one other season in Kansas Metropolis; that would simply be why the group let him stroll in March. He’s additionally 29, whereas Smith is 26. However each gamers entered the league in 2019 — and there may be little doubt that Fortson is extra in tune with the Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes than Smith can ever hope to be.
In my thoughts, that is an apparent transfer Kansas Metropolis might make earlier than the roster cutdown. After waiving huge receiver Jaaron Hayek with an harm designation on Wednesday (after clearing waivers on Thursday, Hayek is now on the group’s Reserve/Injured record), there’s even a roster spot obtainable.
The Chiefs, nevertheless, might even see it in another way. How about you?
