Leading the way are rookie revelation Jordan Addison and generational star Justin Jefferson, which indicate that the Minnesota Vikings receiving corps is in excellent shape. But Minnesota has struggled for years to find a WR3.
Although K.J. Osborn is a reliable run-blocker, the fan base doesn’t seem to think highly of him, perhaps as a result of his seven drops in the previous season. He inked a $4 million, one-year contract with the New England Patriots during the summer.
The Vikings can solve WR3, even though it’s not their most pressing need, by selecting Ainias Smith of Texas A&M with their third-round draft choice.
Smith, an Aggie in his sixth year of play, had a big influence at College Station. In addition to being the team’s main punt return specialist and scoring two touchdowns in the return game, he recorded 2,407 receiving yards, 405 rushing yards, and 23 total touchdowns.
Smith’s primary contribution to the attack is his exceptional speed. He has been a headache for many top SEC teams to match up against and an offensive danger for Texas A&M. Smith hauled in six receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns in Texas A&M’s 2021 upset of Alabama.
Smith stands out from other possible WR3s due to his speed, which helps him be more dynamic. He also has a very high rate of success in making defenders miss. He makes the most of straightforward paths and is an incredible space traveler.
Because of that speed, Smith has made plays from many different positions throughout his career. He rotated between running back and receiver and never had a defined position.
That might make some people think of Smith’s former colleague, fantasy football legend De’Von Achane. At Texas A&M, Achane was mostly utilized as a running back. But this past season, he was a huge boost to the Miami Dolphins’ explosive offense because to his receiving prowess.
Achane and Deebo Samuel are only two examples of the numerous positionless players in the modern NFL. For the Vikings, Smith has the chance to fill that role, which might also lessen the load on a rookie quarterback. With a few notable exceptions, Tyreek Hill’s and Smith’s playing styles are similar.
Smaller receivers Smith and Hill, who both played running back, are incredibly quick. Both have excellent separation skills and run routes with explosive, twitchy, and precise accuracy. But there’s one big factor that separates them: Hill is a better highpoint passer than Smith is, and Smith suffers with it.
In the end, Smith will be hindered by his incapacity to reach higher positions. However, if the Vikings take him, it shouldn’t be a problem considering Jefferson and Addison’s strengths and route trees. Kevin O’Connell may anticipate a great deal of effective productivity from Smith if he can strategically plan around the advantages of his wide receivers. Despite his size—Smith is 5’10” and 190 pounds—don’t be fooled by it. He has incredible strength. He performed the most repetitions of any wide receiver at this year’s combine—21—in the bench press.
Sadly, this was the only photo we managed to get of Smith during the combine. Due to his right leg fracture, he was unable to take part in any on-field exercises, which probably caused his draft value to drop. If Smith had played, his projection would have been substantially higher, but the Vikings could take advantage of that. With the NFL’s new kickoff regulations, Smith might also be a very valuable asset. Despite Smith’s lack of playing time as a kick returner in college, the new kickoff style suits his skill set.
Steve Smith Sr. is notoriously good at evaluating wide receiver prospects, and he has been a huge fan of Smith throughout the draft process.
Smith correctly evaluated Cooper Kupp, who multiple scouts overlooked and dropped to the third round.
Smith is also a guy you want in your locker room. He could not play in his last collegiate game due to a finger injury, so he coached up his teammates instead. It’s something that every NFL team would love to have.
Smith is even more appealing given that he is probably drafted on the third round. The Vikings must take advantage of this rare opportunity to get a guy with such great output and playmaking abilities in such a late round.
