Vikings Rookie WR Could Be on Roster Bubble

  |  
Aug 9, 2021
Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Byron Houlgrave-USA TODAY NETWORK

For those in the group foreseeing the sure-fire addition of Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the 53-man roster of the Minnesota Vikings, perhaps it’s time to hedge bets.

A wide receiver from the University of Iowa drafted in April, the 5th-Round Smith-Marsette seems like the type of player that will make the team. Yet this year, the Vikings are experiencing several wide receivers making an impact at training camp.

Then on Monday, head coach Mike Zimmer offered this opinion for Smith-Marsette’s membership on the September roster:

 

While that certainly is not an insult – nor a bonafide announcement Smith-Marsette is in trouble – Zimmer basically set the table for the rookie. His special teams acumen must improve. Why? Well, the Vikings special teams in 2020 were terrible. Nearly every aspect of Minnesota’s special teams struggled.

Resultantly, the Vikings have a new special teams coordinator (Ryan Ficken), kickers (Greg Joseph and Riley Patterson), and perhaps new return men in rookie Kene Nwangwu or free-agent signee, Dede Westbrook. For decades, Vikings fans have been cynical about special teams, rooted in memories of missed field goals at the most inopportune times imaginable. So, Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman cleaned house on special teams, employing new faces for a fresh strategy.

And special teams are evidently Smith-Marsette’s meal ticket to the 53-man roster.

Indeed, Smith-Marsette was a 5th-Round pick, indicating a full-blown exodus from the roster is unlikely. In the event Smith-Marsette was not included in the first depth chart of the season, he would probably spend time on the team’s practice squad.

In spots, the former Hawkeye has shown promise. Early on in camp, Smith-Marsette established quick chemistry with fellow rookie, Kellen Mond, who has been absent from the team for 10 days due to the coronavirus. A couple of Mond bombs were hauled in by Smith-Marsette, an exciting sight for what folks expect to see from the Vikings in 2023 or so.

Smith-Marsette is also fast. He clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash time before the 2021 NFL Draft, bolstering the case for Smith-Marsette to make the team in some capacity.

These are the WRs likely to make the team as of the first week of August:

  • Adam Thielen
  • Justin Jefferson
  • Dede Westbrook
  • K.J. Osborn
  • Chad Beebe

That conceivably leaves Smith-Marsette, Dan Chisena (a special teams guru), Blake Proehl, and Whop Philyor to fight for one or two spots. The deck is stacked against one or two of those players.

Minnesota also signed another pass-catcher on Monday, Warren Jackson, an undrafted rookie who was teammates with Bisi Johnson at Colorado State. Jackson instantly becomes the Vikings tallest receiver standing 6’6.”

 

On Smith-Marsette, he has two things going for him. He was organically drafted by Spielman in the 5th Round. That’s a nice incumbency to make the team. And Zimmer outlined what he must do to see the regular season – play better special teams. Smith-Marsette will probably make the team, but Zimmer seemed to draw a line in the sand on Monday for his expectations.

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