Minnesota Vikings get versatile talent in Ihmir Smith-Marsette

The Minnesota Vikings maneuvered the 2021 NFL Draft very well, finishing up with four selections in the third round thanks to a trade back with the New York Jets. It gave them the ability to target young talent at a variety of positions, which was huge considering the roster had been gutted last offseason. Still a young team overall, this draft haul could give head coach Mike Zimmer a good influx of talent to get the Vikings back on track as a contender.

One of the picks to keep an eye on for the Minnesota Vikings is Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette.

Ihmir Smith-Marsette was an intriguing deep threat in the 2021 receiver class and likely fell due to the depth of the class and some off-the-field concerns. However, the talent is undeniable, and there’s a chance he could contribute as a WR3 early on in his career.

Over the course of his career with the Hawkeyes, Smith-Marsette accumulated 110 catches for 1,615 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 34 times for 274 yards and scored four times.

That versatility shows up on tape. Smith-Marsette has great field vision with the ball in his hands and possesses the speed to threaten angles of deeper defenders on the field. As a receiver, Smith-Marsette eats up cushion quickly, and is a good route salesman with his head and shoulders, and consistently flashes double moves and stutter moves to get by defenders. He has a long, wiry frame and has a larger catch radius than anticipated for his size.

Smith-Marsette can create separation underneath with his athleticism and quickness, and can create deep with his speed.

The Minnesota Vikings are lacking a reliable third receiver after Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson, and Smith-Marsette could be that guy. His versatility to win pre-catch and post-catch make him a great fit in the offense, especially for one that consistently takes deep shots.

Speed is a factor that can help not only on offense but in the return game as well. Having a player who can get the Vikings good starting field position will be important as well. Smith-Marsette has two return touchdowns on his resume and averaged 28.7 yards per return on 53 returns with the Hawkeyes.

There will plenty of competition for the WR3 spot, along with the returner position (Iowa State RB Kene Nwangwu, a new Viking as well, brings return value). But, Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s versatility and skill set should give him the opportunity to stick on the Minnesota Vikings’ roster for a long time, and could provide great return on value from this 2021 NFL Draft.