Image courtesy of Vikings.com
Harrison Smith’s patience was finally rewarded; the Minnesota Vikings made their star defender the NFL’s highest paid safety, inking Smith to a five-year, $51.25 million contract extension. According to the team’s official website, the move was an offseason goal for general manager Rick Spielman, who has a history of retaining key draft picks.
Shortly after the announcement, the media took to Twitter to release Smith’s contract details, and the numbers were impressive. Over the next three years, Smith will make an average of $10.75 million, putting him ahead of Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas ($10 million per year).
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was the first to break down Smith’s guaranteed money, which includes a full guarantee of $15.278 million and $28.578 million in total guarantees. The deal keeps Minnesota’s dynamic, dual-threat safety in Purple and Gold through the 2021 season.
Smith watched as fellow 2012 NFL Draft classmates — Rhett Ellison, Blair Walsh, Jarius Wright, and Audie Cole — all signed new contracts over the past two years. For a player who is arguably the Vikings’ most valuable defender, it only seemed a matter of time before Smith joined them on Minnesota’s new payroll. When asked during organized team activities (OTAs) why that hadn’t happened yet, Smith simply expressed faith in the front office and voiced his desire to remain with the Vikings.
Since being drafted 29th-overall four years ago, Smith has recorded 402 tackles (coaches’ tally), 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 12 interceptions and 27 passes defended. According to NFL spokesperson Randall Liu, Smith is the only player since 2012 to compile more than 300 tackles and at least five sacks (5.5), 10 interceptions (12) and four returned interceptions for touchdowns.
However, there’s some that believe Smith hasn’t unlocked his full potential. Earlier this offseason, head coach Mike Zimmer argued that Smith could become an even better player with the right running mate in the secondary.
“If Harrison Smith was paired with a guy that had some other qualities, we could allow Harrison to be more of an impactful player,” Zimmer said, per the team’s official website. “I think Harrison could be more impactful if he had the right kind of person next to him.”
Even without the Robin to his Batman, Smith has done everything for the Vikings. The ‘Hitman’ is a force against the run, an adept blitzer, and a ballhawk in the deep half. As Pro Football Focus stated this offseason, he’s a defender quarterbacks have to account for on every single play. And now, they’ll be looking for Smith in Minnesota’s secondary for years to come.
Last season, Smith recorded 87 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, two interceptions and two passes defensed — good enough to be named to his first Pro Bowl and the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2016 (No. 73) list.
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Ive been a Vikings fan for over 40 years and i like what i see in this team. Talent and depth to this roster has me actually seeing a Superbowl instead of wishing for one. The time is now. I see a 13 win season. Division Championship. And Superbowl appearence. Go VIKINGS !!!!
It will be interesting to see the contractual details once they come out.
Overall, it is a lot of coin being paid to a very good player. Whether the Vikings can pay people at this rate and still keep the core together for the long term will determine whether this was a good contract from the team's standpoint. We have seen many talented NFL teams go into decline once they started to overpay players and run into long term salary cap issues.
The good news is that it is 5 years tacked on Smith's existing 2016 contract. I consistently see purported Vikings fans talk about just ripping up the 2016 contract and giving Smith a new contract which includes 2016. That would have been gross salary cap mismanagement, and it is not surprising that the Viking front office has better judgement than some Viking fans.
Right now, it looks like the $28.578 number is guaranteed for injury only, with the $15.278 million being guaranteed regardless of performance. If Smith's onfield performance suddenly declined, the Vikings would have a maximum hit of that $15.278, which makes this contract much better.
Smith gets paid if he performs. If he doesn't, he gets approached with an offer to restructure or get cut. We have seen the team use this approach numerous times, including Winfield and Jennings. It serves to protect the team's interest, which is what any fan of the team should have as his primary concern.
Well put Mike.
Every