Obligatory and Annual Irv Smith Jr. Breakout Article
Dustin Baker
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During the 2021 preseason, Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. authored a marvelous showing in which he was the only source of offense against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He gave a flavorful interview to a sideline reporter, upping enthusiasm for a breakout season among fans. Annually, onlookers of the Vikings believe “this is the year” Smith Jr. busts out to stardom.
Days later, Smith Jr. was lost for the season to a torn meniscus. It was a wild turn of events, forcing the Vikings to trade for a man named Chris Herndon, who was later targeted in Minnesota’s 2022 offensive seven times. Yes, seven times. The price was a 4th-Round draft pick in this month’s draft.
Tyler Conklin emerged — quite wonderfully — as the team’s TE1 last year, but now he plays for the New York Jets, leaving for The Big Apple via free agency. Too, Herndon was a member of the Vikings on an expiring contract, and he is no longer employed by the organization.
So, here we are, in a familiar spot, forecasting an obligatory and annual Irv Smith Jr. breakout season.
This time, however, his pocketbook depends on it. Drafted in the 2nd Round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Smith Jr. enters 2022 on the final year of his rookie contract. To secure a hefty contract in 2023 — from the Vikings or a different team — Smith Jr. must finally actualize the yearly hype. Otherwise, he’ll evolve into “what could have been” Viking lore.
The Alabama alumnus has the physical stature and athleticism for the job. He’s essentially a wide receiver in a tight end’s body. Before 2021, Kyle Rudolph — also a free agent like Herndon — “stole” a lot of Smith Jr’s targets. Rudolph was loved within the Vikings organization, and he was reliable. Because of that, Smith Jr. was really just a TE2 in his first two seasons.
But those days are gone. Smith Jr. is a bonafide TE1 now, as the Vikings jettisoned Rudolph and Conklin in favor of Smith Jr. In two seasons, he’s tallied 66 receptions for 676 yards and seven touchdowns on 90 targets.
The working theory? All the man needs is attention to effectuate his Top-10-in-the-league TE prognosis.
And he should, in theory, get that attention inside a Kevin O’Connell offense. O’Connell came to Minnesota from the Los Angeles Rams, an offensive guru-type from the Sean McVay coaching tree. Until now, Smith Jr. has lived as a promising TE1-TE2 immersed in a defense-first culture. He should be the benefactor of the Vikings foundational offseason change.
The only difference this year? He has to break out now. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, his ascension was merely gravy.
Now it’s a necessity.
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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