​The Arizona Cardinals will report to training camp on July 22 to begin the work of preparing for the regular season, shaping the roster, and deciding starting positions and roles across the team. In the weeks leading up to camp, we will review every player on the offseason roster, examining their background, contract status, performance from 2025, the questions they pose, and their overall roster outlook.
Here is a profile of receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Smith enters his first season with the Cardinals and his sixth in the NFL. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 draft by the Minnesota Vikings and has since spent time on active rosters with the Vikings, the Chicago Bears, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Carolina Panthers, and the New York Giants. Last season, he spent most of his time on the Giants’ practice squad and did not appear in a game. He signed a futures deal with the Cardinals after the season.
Under that contract, if he makes the roster, his 2026 compensation would exceed $1.2 million. It is a qualifying veteran deal, which means the cap hit is a reduced $1.08 million. Smith-Marsette enters Training Camp as something of a long shot to secure a spot on the final 53, but his NFL experience and potential as a returner keep him in the mix. That said, with fellow return specialist Devin Duvernay also on the roster, Smith-Marsette may find himself on the fringe of the roster competition.
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