Ihmir Smith-Marsette – WR
Ihimr Smith-Marsette is definitely a player who could be the next K.J. Osborn. He plays the same position and actually flashed in year one with the scant number of targets he saw go his way. He only suited up for eight games and saw six targets but he caught five of those for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith has a lanky frame, but he is 6-foot-1 with solid top-end speed. His best trait is just how quick he is in and out of his breaks, making it very hard for defenders to stick with him stride for stride. He also plays with confidence, which opponents could call cockiness, but having that type of swag is what successful receivers need.
This could be Smith-Marsette’s breakout year primarily because he’ll see a lot more targets in Kevin O’Connell‘s offense. The Vikings will use plenty of four-receiver sets and will be throwing the ball more frequently than they did a season ago. Smith’s targets should go up exponentially as will his production.
The question is where will Smith-Marsette end up on the Vikings’ depth chart? He’ll be battling a couple of veterans in Albert Wilson and Bisi Johnson for that fourth spot. The fact he is currently injured doesn’t help, but if the new regime watched this guy’s highlights from a season ago, they are surely salivating at the potential he has.