Former Vikings WR Will Stick with the Chiefs in 2023
Josh Frey
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Former Vikings WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette got his first Super Bowl ring this past weekend when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. And now, it appears that Smith-Marsette will stick with the Chiefs in 2023 after being offered a futures deal to remain on the practice squad, as reported by Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.
When the Minnesota Vikings selected Smith-Marsette in the fifth-round of the 2021 NFL Draft, it seemed like he could eventually turn into a productive player on the offensive side of the ball. Between his size and speed, the former Iowa Hawkeye carried a skillset suitable to the NFL.
That did not work out, though. Minnesota waived him in August, and while the Chicago Bears gave him a chance by claiming him, just six weeks into the 2022 season, he hit the market again after Chicago waived him. Then, he landed in Kansas City.
During the 2021 season, Smith-Marsette didn’t see much playing time with the offense. That being said, he certainly flashed down the stretch of that regular season. Over the course of the year, he caught five of six targets for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In his sole start of the season, Week 18, he caught three passes and gained 103 yards as well as scored a touchdown.
This closing performance by the rookie led many fans to believe the Vikings were onto something special with the receiver. That seemed to continue into training camp as he was essentially listed as the WR4 on Minnesota’s unofficial depth chart, behind Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and KJ Osborn.
Because of this emergence, it came as a massive surprise to see the Vikings not only waive Smith-Marsette, but also trade for Jalen Reagor from the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Bears claimed Smith-Marsette off waivers one day after the Vikings let him go; it was just one of many moves to bring former Vikings to the Windy City. However, he had a very limited impact in Chicago, other than fumbling his only reception down the stretch of Chicago’s Week 5 game against the Vikings, allowing Minnesota to seal their victory.
Then, with his third team of 2022, Smith-Marsette continued to have a very limited impact. He played in just two games for Kansas City during the regular season, appearing in just 12 offensive snaps. Being that he was on the practice squad, he did not get onto the field during the playoffs, but either way, he’s now a Super Bowl champion. Perhaps his role will grow in 2023.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.