Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports activities.
For the previous few seasons, it has been a query as as to if or not Harrison Smith will grasp up his cleats. The previous Golden Domer and first-round decide has been at this for 13 years.
Hitman Operating It Again with Vikings?
A return in 2025 would make it Smith’s 14th NFL season, and that form of tenure on the security place isn’t one thing that sometimes occurs.
Harrison Smith isn’t typical, although. He will not be taking part in on the identical degree he did whereas being named to Professional Bowl and All-Professional groups, however he’s nonetheless a frontrunner on the Vikings’ protection and extremely productive.
It’s an enormous offseason for the secondary in purple. The cornerback place is in jeopardy of being turned utterly over. The security place would lose each Smith (if he retired) and doubtlessly Cam Bynum (a free agent). Brian Flores must discover a vital variety of options to step up on his facet of the ball.
Final yr, Smith performed 16 video games for Minnesota and picked off three passes. He had zero interceptions in 2023, and his ten passes defensed have been a big step ahead from the three he had in 2023 as properly. Smith recorded 87 tackles, had a sack, and had three tackles for loss.
Flores deploys his safeties in several methods. Smith and Bynum operated in conventional units for a lot of the season. That allowed Josh Metellus to behave as a Swiss military knife. If Smith does come again, that will enhance how Minnesota doubtless needs to make the most of Metellus once more.
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities
Smith has a $6.5 million cap quantity in 2025 and would play on a base wage of simply over $1.2 million. He has void years on his present deal that begins in 2026, and that will put the Vikings in a greater monetary spot. After all, his need to play throughout the upcoming season doesn’t doubtless weigh Minnesota’s cap implications too closely.
Regardless, if Minnesota finds out that their captain desires to come back again once more, there’s no motive he wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that’s targeted on all issues Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s lively on Twitter and writes each day for Minnesota Sports activities Fan. As a former faculty athlete and avid sports activities fan, masking our professional groups with a ardour has all the time appeared like such a pure outlet.
