Aloha, Skoloholics! As we trudge through this Vikings off-season that started a few weeks too early for our liking, we look at potential moves the Vikings could make. In our series of “Where Do We Go From Here”, we look at a specific player or position, and then analyze the various likely options available to the Vikings. From there, we discuss the pros and cons of each option. I try to do this without interjecting opinion, I try to leave it to “just the facts”. This one will be hard, as Harrison Smith is my current favorite Viking, and I sincerely hope he retires a Viking. Is that feasible? Let’s find out.
Harrison Smith was drafted by the Vikings toward the end of the first round of the 2012 NFL draft out of Notre Dame. He has been a fan favorite since arriving in Minnesota, and was one of the league’s top safeties for most of his career. He is now 34 years old, but is still playing at a high level and contributes on defense. Here are his career stats, courtesy of ESPN. Is he still one of the best in the NFL?
Harrison Smith Contract
For Harrison Smith contract information, we look to spotrac. As you can see, Smith’s contract is not pretty if you’re the Vikings. Cap hits are just over $19 million in ’23 and ’24, then increase to north of $22 million in 2025. The ~$19.1 million in 2023 makes him the 2nd-highest paid safety in football, only $500,000 behind the highest-paid safety. Is this commensurate with his level of play?
Vikings Options
Keep Harrison Smith at Current Contract
The Vikings could decide that Harrison Smith is vital to this defense. They may feel that there are other veterans who need to go, and that Smith is vital to helping to develop the young players who are sure to flood the roster next year. If that’s the case, they could continue to pay him out the remainder of his contract. The advantages are that you don’t have to replace your FS and you retain Smith’s talent. The disadvantage is that you are paying an aging FS $19 to $22 million a year until he is 36.
Contract Restructure/Extension
The man will be 36 when this contract ends. Let’s not be silly and even discuss this event which is not going to happen.
Trade Harrison Smith
To the chagrin of many Vikings fans, the Vikings could decide to move on from Harrison Smith via a trade. The advantages of this are that the Vikings will at least get something in return for Smith, as opposed to the next option, a release. The disadvantage is that you now have another hole to fill on the roster, and you would incur a dead cap hit. The team can play with the 6/1 date to push some dead cap into 2024, but they’d eat the ~$11.8 million. There are a few questions to ask. Would a team be willing to give anything up for a 34 year old safety? Do the Vikings feel they already have a replacement on the roster?
Release Harrison Smith
If the Vikings have no bites on the trade market, then they may choose to release Harrison Smith. They can designate him as a post 6/1 release to kick some of the dead cap into 2024, but they would eventually eat the entire ~$11.8 million in dead cap.
Summary
There are the options available to the Vikings. What’s your opinion? Where do we go from here?
What should the Vikings do with Harrison Smith?
- Trade Harrison Smith (42%, 8 Votes)
- Release Harrison Smith (37%, 7 Votes)
- Keep him on his current contract (21%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 19
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#22 still is pretty good, even if he´s getting up there in age. You have to have some veteran leadership on the defense, can´t roll with a bunch of players who are still wet behind the ears only. I say keep him, and restructure his contract if at all possible.
This all is moot though until the Vikes land a new DC, who naturally should and will have a say about which players he wants to retain for his defense. Would be wise to keep veteran leadership around, in Harry´s case that would necessitate to do something about his contract. If the Vikes kick him to the curb I might have to change my screen name to Revenge4Hitman…
The trade market for a 34 yr old safety is going to be bleak, time to release him and eat the cap.
:side note: should have done this 2 years ago