Stefon Diggs burst onto the scene last season as a fifth-round draft pick, becoming the first rookie to record at least 85 receiving yards in each of his first four games in the NFL.
The former Maryland standout went on to lead the Vikings in catches (52) and yards (720) as Minnesota went 11-5 and won the NFC North title.
Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune said the second-year wide receiver looks poised for another strong season based on the playmaking ability he's shown in Mankato.
If during the first week of Vikings training camp had you looked down at your phone to craft a clever tweet or turned to actually engage another onlooker in conversation, you ran the risk of missing another highlight from Diggs.
One moment he was crossing up the legs of a starting cornerback with a nifty whip route near the goal line. The next he was blowing by the secondary to catch a deep ball from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. And, yes, that was him, too, making that one-handed grab in the back corner of the end zone.
"He's all over the place," wide receivers coach George Stewart said.
Diggs has also flashed his skill set while in a different position than the one he played last season.
The Vikings have had Diggs line up off the ball at the flanker position and have even moved him in the slot at times.
The 22-year-old said he hasn't even noticed he's lining up in a different spot than in 2015.
"I haven't really been able to tell. I feel like I'm playing the same spot," Diggs said in a session with reporters, later adding, "To me, it really doesn't matter where they line me up."
Andre Smith ready to impress Zimmer
Vikings right tackle Andre Smith was the sixth overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft by Cincinnati, a franchise that had Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer leading their defense at the time.
The pair was reunited this offseason when Smith chose to sign with the Vikings as a free agent.
Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press took a look at Smith’s career and noted Smith is out to prove himself during his first season in Minnesota.
*From 2009-13, Smith's first five years with Cincinnati, Zimmer was the Bengals defensive coordinator. Although Zimmer was on the other side of the ball, he made a big impact on Smith. *
*Smith said the chance to play for Zimmer was the primary reason he joined the Vikings. *
"Just having a relationship with him and seeing me for five years and knowing the player I am, the person I am, trusting him,'' Smith said. "He's just a great coach and person. He's trying to push you all the time.''
