Rick Spielman’s five best NFL Draft picks from the last five years

Irv Smith Jr. – TE

Rick Spielman struck gold again in the second round back in 2019, when he took tight end Irv Smith Jr. out of Alabama. Smith was viewed as basically a wide receiver in a tight end’s body and he was deemed to be a huge mismatch against any linebackers and safeties that attempt to cover him. For the most part, that has been true.

Smith started his career behind Kyle Rudolph on the depth chart. He racked up 36 receptions on 47 targets in his debut season and found the end zone twice. He upped his touchdowns to five in 2020, and he still caught 30 passes despite missing three games due to an injury.  The biggest thing Smith achieved in year two was showing the coaching staff he could be the team’s primary tight end.

Rudolph was lost for a stretch due to an injury and the tight end No. 1 mantle was passed on to Smith. He took over Rudolph’s role as an elite red-zone option and he played so well, Minnesota didn’t miss their longtime safety net, and they realized they could let him go in the offseason, saving some money in the process. Smith has a huge opportunity to really bust out in 2021, as he should see his targets increase exponentially.

Smith’s biggest competition to be the best pick from this draft primarily comes from Garrett Bradbury, though Alexander Mattison also deserves some recognition. Bradbury has started every game of his career so far, but he is still a liability in pass protection, and Mattison, while playing in a part-time role, has lived up to his third-round billing. Those two are decent, but Smith is the crown jewel of this class.