The Vikings currently have just $1.3MM of salary cap space, the lowest amount in the league at the moment, which means that they will have to make some tough decisions as the offseason goes along. One of those decisions involves safety Anthony Harris, who sounds likely to leave Minnesota when free agency opens in March.
Speaking to reporters at the scouting combine, head coach Mike Zimmer said, “I love Anthony; if he doesn’t come back, I think he’s earned whatever he’s gotten. But, you know, if you put up the positions that are most important on defense, it’s probably not going to be safety. We’ll figure out a way to find one if he’s not back” (via Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune).
As Goessling observes, the Vikings have generally not spent much money on a safety to pair with star Harrison Smith in the defensive backfield, and Harris’ career trajectory suggests that Minnesota will be able to replace him at a fraction of what he is likely to earn on the open market.
A 2015 UDFA, Harris did not become a full-time starter until the middle of the 2018 season, when Andrew Sendejo was suspended. He performed well enough to earn a second-round RFA tender last year, and he started all 14 games in which he appeared in 2019. He racked up a league-leading six interceptions, and advanced metrics loved him. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the third-best safety in the game last year — one spot ahead of Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler — and he earned high praise for his coverage skills.
All of that will put him in high demand in a couple of weeks, and he should be one of the first players to come off the market when the bell rings on March 18.
I expect just about every team to contact him. At least see where he values himself.
If they expect to be able to retain the up and comers it’s time for the Vikings to start unloading the high priced talent that thus far has not gotten the team to the promised land and replace them with younger and cheaper players.
Agree, So many of their current players who are not producing should be reevaluated for major salary cuts or released. Such as Reiff, Joseph, Barr, Rhodes, Waynes, Smith and Cousins .
Not sure I’d put Smith and Barr on that list.
I understand but it seems to me Barr just kinda disappears during too many games . The position he plays demands/requires more tackles/sacks and pass defense .
Plus Barr’s replacement Wilson seemed to be so much more active and aggressive when given the chance to play .
Honestly, the VIkings should be making a lot of moves. First off, trade Diggs. He will fetch another 1st Rd pick for them. Then try and trade Joseph and Reiff…if no takers, cut them. Also cut Rhodes and Elflein. Trading Diggs opens about $14 mil. The other 4 (by cutting them) would open up about $29.4 mil in cap space. So realistically, that would create just a hair under $44 million in cap space. Drop $3.5 of that on draft picks. They now have approx. $40 million in cap space. Replace Diggs with Emmanuel Sanders. Sign Joe Thuney or (to a lesser extent) Graham Glasgow . Then use the 2 First Rd picks to select Jacob Eason and then the best OT available. Also try to bring back Trae Waynes, and if not, best CB in the 2nd Rd. See how far Seattle drives the price up on Everson Griffen.