5 Unsung Vikings on Cusp of Breaking Out with New Regime
The usual suspects like Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter, and Harrison Smith should have a heyday with a new Minnesota Vikings regime. Those men showed the franchise was capable of at least eight wins no matter who was in charge.
But more men stand to benefit from the arrival of Kevin O’Connell and his new coaching staff, some with an under-the-radar feel.
These are those men, in ascending order of potential impact.
5. Camryn Bynum (S)
Bynum played 21% of all Vikings defensive snaps in 2021, tabulating at 78.3 grade from Pro Football Focus along the way. Because Xavier Woods — who longer plays for the team — had a stranglehold on the safety job last year, one cannot ask for a better rookie showing in limited playing time than Bynum’s.
When Harrison Smith missed a couple of games, Bynum — out of nowhere — hopped in the lineup and somehow didn’t miss a beat. And that’s tricky to do with Smith’s typical production and theatrics.
For now, Bynum is the starting safety opposite Smith inside Ed Donatell’s new 3-4 defense. Bynum will receive ample time to build on his rookie campaign — if the Vikings don’t sign a veteran free agent or draft Kyle Hamilton.
4. Ihmir Smith-Marsette (WR)
Remember K.J. Osborn’s ascension to WR3 last summer out of nowhere? Smith-Marsette can replicate that.
Of course, it is unlikely Osborn says “here you go” to Smith-Marsette for the WR3 job. But here’s the deal — this brand of Vikings will fancy multiple WR sets, and it won’t be weird to experience a productive WR4.
You might recall the Mike Zimmer era when fans begged for the emergence of a WR3, let alone a WR4. It took eight years for a WR3 to blossom in a Zimmer offensive scheme, with Osborn finally putting his foot down and seizing the job.
Now, Smith-Marsette can push Osborn to the limit for WR3 or just go win the WR4 job, a spot on the offensive depth chart that won’t be ignored by Kevin O’Connell.
3. Jordan Hicks (LB)
This dude is a machine, merely for the fact he’s always on the field. Hicks doesn’t get hurt, and he rarely takes plays off. Hicks hasn’t missed a game since 2018 and has played at least 92% of all defensive snaps in each season since the start of 2019.
Get familiar with this man because he’s a tackling savant, leader, and anchor for a defense.
If you’re wondering, “where the hell is Anthony Barr?” — Hicks stole his job and probably isn’t giving it back.
Hicks makes noise with defensive stability wherever he goes and will rapidly become a fan favorite with Donatell in charge.
2. Irv Smith Jr. (TE)
Quite frankly, we’re tired of forecasting an “Irv Smith Jr. breakout season” because it’s redundant.
For four consecutive offseasons, Smith Jr. has been theorized as a bust-out candidate as his athleticism is freakish. He needs to fix the “this is the year” talk with actual performance on the field.
Indeed, his rise to stardom was stunted by a sometimes-vanilla Zimmer offense. But those days are over. Smith Jr. is in the final year of his rookie contract, so he must finally post TE1 numbers, or he’ll encounter a tiny contract in 2023 — from the Vikings or some other team.
On the whole, though, O’Connell should adore someone of Smith Jr.’s caliber marinating on the depth chart.
1. K.J. Osborn (WR)
Last year, with the stroke of a purple wand, Osborn manifested a true-blue WR3 season that Vikings fans craved for approximately ten years.
Osborn was reliable, clutch, and lovable. In 2022, he’ll experience an audition for future WR2 with the Vikings. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen will be WR1 and WR2 undoubtedly, but another year of dependability and statistical growth in 2022 will confirm Osborn as “the guy” for life-after-Thielen. And Thielen is a player nudging up against age. He’ll be 32 when the regular season starts.
Snagging 655 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2021, Osborn can shove those totals northward to 800+ yards or so. If he does, he is a reasonable WR2 prospect when Thielen begins a performance-related dip.
O’Connell’s Rams didn’t consider WR3s a cute perk on offense. They were a necessity. So, Osborn will be more involved than ever.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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