Bleacher Report Names Vikings Tight End as the Team’s “Best Kept Secret”
Josh Frey
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Every collective NFL fanbase has a player that they see as a “secret weapon” of sorts that they can’t wait to unleash on the rest of the league. Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report went through each NFL team and selected players that fit this criterion. The selection for the Minnesota Vikings will come to no surprise for anyone. Moton decided on tight end Irv Smith Jr.
The 23-year-old had a breakout of sorts in 2020 when he recorded 30 receptions, 365 yards, and 5 TDs. After Kyle Rudolph’s departure for the New York Giants following that season, it seemed that 2021 would be the year where Smith truly got to show what he was made of. Instead, he suffered a torn meniscus during camp and missed the entire season; a devastating loss right before the start of the season.
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Following the injury to Smith, 2021 became Tyler Conklin’s year, and he made the most of it, putting together 61 catches, 593 yards, and 3 TDs. After a breakout season of his own, Conklin departed for the New York Jets in free agency.
Now, we are once again waiting in anticipation of a Smith breakout. This time will be different though because he won’t have to share targets with Conklin like he would have last year. Currently, the Vikings have five tight ends on the roster: Smith, Zach Davidson, Ben Ellefson, Nick Muse, and Johnny Mundt.
Outside of Smith, there are a total of 11 NFL receptions between the other four tight ends, and 10 of them belong to Johnny Mundt, who was a backup to Tyler Higbee with the Los Angeles Rams for five years before coming to Minnesota.
Needless to say, the majority of the Vikings targets at the tight end position will go to Smith as long as he remains healthy. Moton believes the same, suggesting that he could challenge KJ Osborn as the No. 3 target behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. This would be a massive boost to the Vikings passing offense; one that they certainly need in the absence of Conklin.
