According to Jim Owczarski, the Bengals are interested in re-signing impending free-agent DE Chris Smith and have spoken to his representatives about a new deal. However, Owczarski adds that Smith is expected to have “a lot” of interest on the open market in the coming weeks.
Smith, 26, is a former fifth-round pick of the Jaguars back in 2014. He, unfortunately, lasted just a few months before he was waived a few weeks into the regular season. Jacksonville later added him to their practice squad before eventually calling him up later on in the year.
Jacksonville decided to trade him to the Bengals in April of last year in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Smith just finished the final year of his four-year, $2,407,252 rookie contract after making a base salary of $690,000 for the 2017 season.
In 2017, Smith appeared in all 16 games and recorded 26 total tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and two pass defenses.
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