5 Vikings players who could become stars in 2022

Irv Smith Jr., TE

By now, Minnesota Vikings fans are probably tired of hearing about all the potential that Irv Smith Jr. has to offer the offense. It seems like every year he is hyped as a breakout player and then struggles to stay on the field.

Now that he is fully healthy and ready to re-join the offense, this could be a real opportunity for him to shine. The new offense run by Kevin O’Connell should see the ball head Smith’s way at a high rate, especially with a quarterback as accurate as Kirk Cousins.

Although Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen are both stars in the NFL, that also means they will get a lot of attention from the opposing defense. That will open the field for Smith to use his speed and acceleration to get open underneath and gain yards after the catch.

The clock is already ticking a bit on Irv Smith Jr. He has to be frustrated that he hasn’t been able to show what he can do on the field the way that others have. But this season feels different, and it’s time for Smith to rock that 84 jersey proudly.