The Vikings Ever-Evolving TE Situation
Ted Schwerzler
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The Minnesota Vikings were often a two-tight end team under Mike Zimmer, and they flipped a pick for Chris Herndon after Irv Smith Jr. went down before the season last year. As it played out, however, they were a one-man show, and now Tyler Conklin may have played himself onto a new team entirely.
Last season it was expected that Smith Jr. could be in line for a breakout. The talented 2nd round pick from the 2019 draft was coming off his best season and had hauled in five touchdowns in 2020. He was beginning to settle in with quarterback Kick Cousins, and carving out an offensive role despite just seven starts was an impressive improvement. When he hit Injured Reserve before the season even kicked off, there was plenty of air let out of Minnesota’s offensive sails. Then Conklin showed up.
Having never started more than three games in a season, Conklin played over 80% of the Vikings offensive snaps last season and drew 15 starts. His 593 yards were more than his career totals in three seasons combined, and his three touchdowns were two more than he’d caught in 47 games prior. Conklin didn’t establish himself as the second coming of Rob Gronkowski, but he’s certainly in line for more than $990k per year.
Knowing the Vikings are facing cap issues with the quarterback position and need to revamp the defense, paying a handsome sum for a second tight end seems like a luxury they may look to do without.
New head coach Kevin O’Connell has seen plenty of success from the tight end position. Tyler Higbee has posted at least 500 yards in each of the past three seasons. He’s put up five touchdowns the last two years, and despite a strong wide receiver room, Higbee has held his own both in terms of involvement and production. That bodes well for the return of Irv Smith Jr.
Should the Vikings believe in a clean bill of health, Smith Jr. should be expected to immediately contribute in Wes Phillips’ offense. Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn make up a strong receiver group, but Smith Jr. has the athleticism to go up against anyone at the position. There’s a substantial amount of production needing replacement with Conklin’s departure, but we may just be seeing the breakout come through a year after it was initially hoped.
A win all around could be the result here. Conklin worked his opportunity into a warranted payday, and Smith Jr. provides a talent waiting for O’Connell and Phillips to deploy at his best. Tight ends have become a much more substantial part of modern NFL offenses, and the Vikings invigorating theirs with a guy that was sidelined last season is a nice treat.
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