Once Promising Vikings Playmaker Picks Up More NFL Work
Receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, a once promising Vikings playmaker, will be sticking around in New York.
Still only 25, Smith-Marsette is going to get the chance at some coveted continuity, playing with the Giants yet again after bouncing around after he got cut from Minnesota. The update arrives courtesy of Aaron Wilson: “#Giants re-signed Ihmir Smith-Marsette.”
Vikings Playmaker Going Back to the Giants
Ironically, Minnesota could use someone like Smith-Marsette, a long and speedy receiver who helps out as a punt returner.
Standing at 6’1″ and weighing 185 pounds, Smith-Marsette ran a very solid 4.43 forty. His offensive output with the Giants was limited, only playing 7 snaps on offense. He did, however, snag 137 special teams snaps across fifteen games.
On specials, Smith-Marsette had 29 punt returns go for 228 yards, good for an average of 7.9 yards. There was even a kickoff return that went 100 yards. The year before, he was working for the Panthers. Smith-Marsette had 37 punt returns go for 322 yards and an 8.7 average. Even better, the man brought one back for a touchdown.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette first got into the NFL back in 2021 when Rick Spielman made him the No. 157 pick in that draft.
His rookie season showed some promise in a depth job. Minnesota got him involved in a half dozen games, kicking over 6 targets that went for an explosive 5 catches for 116 yards and 2 scores. The yards and touchdowns are still a career high for him.
Of course, the 2022 offseason involved major change in the Twin Cities. Gone were Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell were brought in as replacements. At the end of August in 2022, Smith-Marsette was waived.
Division rival Chicago moved in for the claim, picking up him. By October, the Bears had seen enough, deciding to move on. The Chiefs then snagged him, bringing him along for the Super Bowl journey. He was then traded to the Panthers in August of 2023 before being waived by the Panthers in August of 2024. That’s when the Giants opportunity arrived.
Most recently, Brandon Powell has been Minnesota’s punt returner. The hesitance to bring Powell back, though, suggests that Minnesota has some interest in improving at punt returner (and possibly at WR4/5).
Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s deal is coming in at $1,337,500 for 2025.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.
