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Ed Smith began his career in NFL Europe and later spent time with the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions.
He is the brother of former NFL tight end Irv Smith and the uncle of Houston Texans tight end, Irv Smith Jr.
Smith currently co-hosts the EZ Sports Talk Show with Javon Adams in Phoenix. Together, they also host the Bleav Network.
I had a chance to catch up with Ed and talk about what he expects from the Falcons in 2025.
Craig: Do you feel like last month’s draft selections were a step in the right direction?
Ed: It appears the emphasis was on the defensive side of the ball this year in the draft, specifically the interior pass rush. The selection of Jalon Walker (Georgia) with the number 15 overall pick felt ideal, as he seemed to fall right into their lap. It was a little puzzling that the Falcons traded back into the first round to select James Pearce (Tennessee), another edge rusher. By doing so they gave up their 2026 first round pick, the price might have been a little hefty, but we'll see.
With a limited number of total picks in the draft, only 5 selections, the Falcons appeared to have a plan and executed on it. Their sleeper pick: Billy Bowman, out of Oklahoma, was expected by many to go higher than his fourth-round selection at number 118. His style of play should bring versatility to the secondary packages. Not being an overall amazing draft, it was still a success for the Falcons and a step in the right direction.
Craig: There was so much hype when Kyle Pitts was taken a few years back. How would you access his career thus far being a former TE?
Ed: Pitts has been a real enigma so far. After being named a unanimous All-American at the University of Florida and winning the John Mackey Award, (college football's most outstanding Tight End) in 2020, the Falcons selected him fourth overall in the 2021 Draft. Thus far Pitts has not delivered on the promises of his collegiate career.
In some games, it appears as if Pitts is invisible, something hard to do for a 6’6” Tight End on an NFL field. In four seasons he has only 10 Touchdowns. 2024 marked his highest output with 4. His highest number of receptions, in a single season, was his rookie season (2021) with 68, he followed that year up with his lowest, 28 catches in 2022
Something is missing, I don’t think it’s physical. Pitts should be feared by D-Coordinators around the league. A nightmarish matchup for any secondary, but so far it just hasn’t materialized. Maybe with Michael Penix Jr. taking over full-time this season, and an offseason to gel, Pitts will become one of the favorite targets of the young QB. One of the best friends of ANY young QB in the league should be a great running game and Tight End roaming the middle of the field. We’ll see if it’s time for Pitts to shine.
Craig: Let’s spend a moment and talk about the all-important QB position. Is there any risk that Kirk Cousins becomes a distraction and Penix Jr. is looking over his shoulder?
Ed: I honestly think the worst thing the Falcons could do is NOT move Kirk Cousins before the start of the season, the sooner the better. Regardless of how good a teammate he is, (saying all the right things and “being there to support the young QB”), Pennix will feel extra pressure merely because of his presence.
With each errant pass, interception or sack, there will be fans screaming for the most popular player on most NFL teams, the backup QB who can no doubt come in and do a better job than what we currently have on the field.
There are teams out there that could use and would love to have Cousins in their QB room. You may have to eat some of the salary. It would be worth it to give your young QB a feeling that this is his organization to lead. Why leave any doubt in his mind?
Craig: Five Prime Time Games on the schedule. What was your best moment as a player playing at night?
Ed: It wasn’t a night game but it was absolutely Prime Time! My second season in Atlanta with the Falcons was highlighted by our victory in the 1999 NFC Championship Game vs. the highly favored Minnesota Vikings. Nobody gave us a chance to win that game, we came in as 11-point underdogs. Most thought that was a generous spread considering the high potency, record setting offense of the Vikings.
The team’s magical 14-2 season was looked at as a fluke. The 15-1 Vikings would toy with us as their coronation as NFC Champs. I made small contributions early in the game, a tackle down the sideline on an interception return and short reception down in the redzone. My biggest moment came on the last play of the game, lined up as the left wing of the Field Goal unit, a successful kick by Morton Anderson sent the Dirty Birds to Super Bowl XXXIII.
The moment still brings me a chill. The crowd was at full throttle, I’d never heard noise that loud and piercing. We gave the ready, the ball was snapped, I covered the inside gap then got a piece of the screamer trying to come off the edge to block our kick. It all happened in a flash, after taking care of my duties I spun around to see the kick from Morton had cleared the line of scrimmage. From his vantage point, Mort and our holder knew the kick was good the moment it left his foot. I realized it a moment later and jumped to the sky, both hands shooting up like I was in one of those old Toyota commercials.
Final score, in overtime, Falcons 30 Vikings 27.
Craig: Do the Falcons return to the playoffs in January?
Ed: The Falcons have a great chance at a playoff run this season. I’m not sure if they are yet at Super Bowl contending level but a division title or wildcard berth should be an attainable goal. Their biggest competition in the NFC South will be Tampa Bay, coincidentally they open the 2025 season against the Buccaneers.
Looking at their schedule, it could be an up and down season, especially if Pennix Jr. experiences early season inconsistencies. I don’t see a lot of long winning streaks. The key is to avoid the losing slumps that can derail a season, especially early on. As for now, hope springs eternal for the Falcons. The draft is in the rear view, rookies are getting their indoctrination, the offseason program has begun and soon training camp will be upon us. The 2025 NFL season will be one of excitement and hopefully many great memories for the Atlanta Falcons organization.
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He is the brother of former NFL tight end Irv Smith and the uncle of Houston Texans tight end, Irv Smith Jr.
Smith currently co-hosts the EZ Sports Talk Show with Javon Adams in Phoenix. Together, they also host the Bleav Network.
I had a chance to catch up with Ed and talk about what he expects from the Falcons in 2025.
Craig: Do you feel like last month’s draft selections were a step in the right direction?
Ed: It appears the emphasis was on the defensive side of the ball this year in the draft, specifically the interior pass rush. The selection of Jalon Walker (Georgia) with the number 15 overall pick felt ideal, as he seemed to fall right into their lap. It was a little puzzling that the Falcons traded back into the first round to select James Pearce (Tennessee), another edge rusher. By doing so they gave up their 2026 first round pick, the price might have been a little hefty, but we'll see.
With a limited number of total picks in the draft, only 5 selections, the Falcons appeared to have a plan and executed on it. Their sleeper pick: Billy Bowman, out of Oklahoma, was expected by many to go higher than his fourth-round selection at number 118. His style of play should bring versatility to the secondary packages. Not being an overall amazing draft, it was still a success for the Falcons and a step in the right direction.
Craig: There was so much hype when Kyle Pitts was taken a few years back. How would you access his career thus far being a former TE?
Ed: Pitts has been a real enigma so far. After being named a unanimous All-American at the University of Florida and winning the John Mackey Award, (college football's most outstanding Tight End) in 2020, the Falcons selected him fourth overall in the 2021 Draft. Thus far Pitts has not delivered on the promises of his collegiate career.
In some games, it appears as if Pitts is invisible, something hard to do for a 6’6” Tight End on an NFL field. In four seasons he has only 10 Touchdowns. 2024 marked his highest output with 4. His highest number of receptions, in a single season, was his rookie season (2021) with 68, he followed that year up with his lowest, 28 catches in 2022
Something is missing, I don’t think it’s physical. Pitts should be feared by D-Coordinators around the league. A nightmarish matchup for any secondary, but so far it just hasn’t materialized. Maybe with Michael Penix Jr. taking over full-time this season, and an offseason to gel, Pitts will become one of the favorite targets of the young QB. One of the best friends of ANY young QB in the league should be a great running game and Tight End roaming the middle of the field. We’ll see if it’s time for Pitts to shine.
Craig: Let’s spend a moment and talk about the all-important QB position. Is there any risk that Kirk Cousins becomes a distraction and Penix Jr. is looking over his shoulder?
Ed: I honestly think the worst thing the Falcons could do is NOT move Kirk Cousins before the start of the season, the sooner the better. Regardless of how good a teammate he is, (saying all the right things and “being there to support the young QB”), Pennix will feel extra pressure merely because of his presence.
With each errant pass, interception or sack, there will be fans screaming for the most popular player on most NFL teams, the backup QB who can no doubt come in and do a better job than what we currently have on the field.
There are teams out there that could use and would love to have Cousins in their QB room. You may have to eat some of the salary. It would be worth it to give your young QB a feeling that this is his organization to lead. Why leave any doubt in his mind?
Craig: Five Prime Time Games on the schedule. What was your best moment as a player playing at night?
Ed: It wasn’t a night game but it was absolutely Prime Time! My second season in Atlanta with the Falcons was highlighted by our victory in the 1999 NFC Championship Game vs. the highly favored Minnesota Vikings. Nobody gave us a chance to win that game, we came in as 11-point underdogs. Most thought that was a generous spread considering the high potency, record setting offense of the Vikings.
The team’s magical 14-2 season was looked at as a fluke. The 15-1 Vikings would toy with us as their coronation as NFC Champs. I made small contributions early in the game, a tackle down the sideline on an interception return and short reception down in the redzone. My biggest moment came on the last play of the game, lined up as the left wing of the Field Goal unit, a successful kick by Morton Anderson sent the Dirty Birds to Super Bowl XXXIII.
The moment still brings me a chill. The crowd was at full throttle, I’d never heard noise that loud and piercing. We gave the ready, the ball was snapped, I covered the inside gap then got a piece of the screamer trying to come off the edge to block our kick. It all happened in a flash, after taking care of my duties I spun around to see the kick from Morton had cleared the line of scrimmage. From his vantage point, Mort and our holder knew the kick was good the moment it left his foot. I realized it a moment later and jumped to the sky, both hands shooting up like I was in one of those old Toyota commercials.
Final score, in overtime, Falcons 30 Vikings 27.
Craig: Do the Falcons return to the playoffs in January?
Ed: The Falcons have a great chance at a playoff run this season. I’m not sure if they are yet at Super Bowl contending level but a division title or wildcard berth should be an attainable goal. Their biggest competition in the NFC South will be Tampa Bay, coincidentally they open the 2025 season against the Buccaneers.
Looking at their schedule, it could be an up and down season, especially if Pennix Jr. experiences early season inconsistencies. I don’t see a lot of long winning streaks. The key is to avoid the losing slumps that can derail a season, especially early on. As for now, hope springs eternal for the Falcons. The draft is in the rear view, rookies are getting their indoctrination, the offseason program has begun and soon training camp will be upon us. The 2025 NFL season will be one of excitement and hopefully many great memories for the Atlanta Falcons organization.
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Continue reading...