Former Viking Called ‘Steal of the Draft’ in UFL
If you’re looking for a UFL team to cheer for this spring, the Louisville Kings have you, the Minnesota Vikings fan, covered. Among several former Vikings, tight end Irv Smith Jr. will be a part of the Kings this year, and he’s apparently the “steal of the draft” if you believe the Kings’ social media team.
Smith Jr. gets a fresh start in Louisville, while Lewis Cine also lands in the UFL with the DC Defenders.
The offshoot league kicks off on March 27, and as always with Smith Jr., onlookers will watch to see if he finally breaks out, a forecast dating back about seven years.
Irv Smith Jr. Might Revive His Career in the UFL
Smith Jr. could apparently be the special sauce in Louisville.
‘Steal of the Draft’ Verbiage Attached to Smith Jr.
The UFL conducted its draft last week, and Louisville’s new tight end is none other than Smith Jr. The club then posted a graphic on Instagram (pictured above), labeling Smith Jr. as the “steal of the draft,” which could be true if he rekindles his career after a sharp downward turn in the last three years.
Total Apex Sports‘ Matt Brown wrote about Smith last weekend, “Another Day Two pickup for the Louisville Kings, Irv Smith Jr. is a former second-round pick out of Alabama who played for the Vikings and Bengals. An athletic ‘move’ tight end, Smith functions more as a heavy slot receiver than a traditional inline blocker.”
“Smith’s agility allows him to separate from linebackers in man coverage, making him a dangerous weapon on seam routes. If he can stay healthy — a significant hurdle in his professional career thus far—he has the talent to be the most productive tight end in the UFL. Scouting Watch: Analyze how Louisville lines him up. If he is frequently detached from the line of scrimmage, expect him to be the primary read on passing downs.”
Smith Jr.’s Career to Date
The Vikings drafted Smith Jr. in 2019 with real excitement behind it. Since leaving Minnesota, though, the resume hasn’t netted much. Here’s the destination list:
- Minnesota Vikings (2019–2022)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2023)
- Kansas City Chiefs (2024)
- Houston Texans (2024–2025)
The turning point — a verdict — came in Cincinnati. That offense really, really needed help at tight end in 2023. Joe Burrow needed pass-catchers. There were no entrenched personalities blocking snaps or targets. The mission statement was clear, and the opportunity was obvious. Smith Jr. sadly didn’t seize it.
Eighteen catches and 115 yards were the final tally. His season ended with a whimper, and so did the remaining benefit of the doubt. If traction couldn’t be found in a tight-end-needy offense with an elite quarterback, the odds of a late-career surge shrank fast. So, the guy is now a UFL member.
Nothing has changed since the Bengals’ experiment. Maybe the UFL can be kinder to Smith Jr.
Time with Vikings
Ex-Vikings general manager Rick Spielman spent a 2nd-Round pick on Irv Smith Jr. six years ago with a clear plan in mind: groom a successor to Kyle Rudolph. The fanbase bought in immediately. Smith Jr. looked like a wide receiver in a tight end’s body, and the optimism came quickly.
Every summer from 2019 through 2022 followed the same script. “Irv Smith Jr. breakout szn” became a running rallying cry — then a running joke — as August hype repeatedly failed to come to fruition.
Ninety-one catches, 858 yards, and nine touchdowns across four seasons were the end result with the Vikings. Injuries also piled up, including a lost 2021 season that should have been prime breakout territory per the popular fan sentiment.
Smith Jr. lasted one year into the Kevin O’Connell era before the door effectively closed. When Minnesota traded for T.J. Hockenson in the fall of 2022, Smith Jr.’s role dissolved basically overnight.
All the Ex-Vikings in Louisville
Choose the Kings if you’re looking for a segue into the UFL. Louisville rosters these former Vikings:
- Travis Bell (DT)
- Andrew Booth (CB)
- Matthew Cindric (C)
- Cameron Dantzler (CB)
- Dallas Gant (LB)
- Irv Smith Jr. (TE)
- LeRoy Watson (OT)
Another prominent former Vikings player also received a UFL placement last week: safety Lewis Cine.
He’s a member of the DC Defenders, and Brown noted on Cine, “Selected by the DC Defenders on Day Two of the draft, Lewis Cine arguably represents the highest-profile acquisition in the league this cycle.”
“A former first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings (32nd overall in 2022) and a standout at Georgia, Cine’s NFL career was derailed by a severe compound leg fracture during his rookie season. Cine possesses elite athletic traits, including explosive closing speed and heavy-hitting ability that made him a force in the SEC. His selection by DC suggests the Defenders are banking on his physical recovery being complete.”
Fans had even higher hopes for Cine than Smith Jr., though neither panned out.
Brown added, “If he can regain the lateral agility he displayed at Georgia, he projects as an immediate difference-maker in the secondary. Scouting Watch: Monitor Cine’s snap count early in the season. If he is deployed in single-high safety looks, it indicates the coaching staff has full confidence in his range and recovery speed post-injury.”
Smith Jr. will turn 28 this summer.
The 2026 season will be the Kings’ inaugural campaign, and former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Chris Redman will lead the team. The Kings’ coach won a Super Bowl with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.
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