Image courtesy of Vikings.com
With the deadline to pick up the option of safety Andrew Sendejo just two weeks away, the Vikings could choose to pave the way for his replacement. At $5.5 million, the price may be a little too steep to keep the 31 year-old around. Luckily for Minnesota, Sendejo’s substitution has already emerged from the depths and helped the Vikings defense get back to the form they had during the 2017 season where they surpassed even the wildest expectations of the Vikings faithful and in going 13-3. It was that defensive play that made the Vikings a popular pick to win the Super Bowl last season, especially after landing quarterback Kirk Cousins. Considering the play of Harris, it might not be a bad move to bet on the Vikings right now, as they have favorable odds (especially thanks to this Betamerica promo code) at least as of the writing of this article.
Anthony Harris impressed many with his solid play last season. In just nine starts, Harris collected 46 tackles, 3 interceptions and 6 passes defended. He also finished with the team’s second-highest PFF grade. Recently, Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus recently listed Harris as one his biggest surprises of the 2018 season:
S Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings
Harris came in for an injured Andrew Sendejo in Week 6 and never gave back the starting job. After never playing more than 254 snaps in a season since going undrafted in 2015, Harris earned an 89.0 overall grade on 624 snaps this year.
Harris, 27, finished the season with a Pro Football Focus grade of 89.0 (Adam Thielen had a 89.5). Harris’ 24.0 passer rating against was best in the NFL for safeties with more than 200 snaps in that span. He also did not commit a penalty all season.
Since actually taking over at safety for George Iloka in Week 8, Harris played the part of partner-in-crime to fellow safety Harrison Smith. What remains to be seen is whether the Vikings will choose to tender Harris as a restricted free agent or give him a multi-year extension. Here are the RFA options should they go that route:
Harris made $705K as an exclusive rights free agent in 2018.
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Knocking on wood for a long-term deal between Harris and the Vikes. It will probably take an average of $6 million per year or more to do it, though, which would have made him about the 20th highest paid safety this past season. I'd like to see some incentives in there, too, based on Pro Bowl appearances, if nothing else, since I think he has that potential in him, where I never thought Sendejo did, even if he has been underpaid.
The market for safeties was really bad last year and I'm hoping that will allow the Vikings to get a fair deal done with Harris that doesn't break the bank. I also think there is a good chance the DT depth in this years draft will drive down the price for Richardson and other DTs in free agency.
Interesting reports coming out that Cincy is looking to trade John Ross. That is exactly the type of player for player trade Treadwell would be perfect for. Underachieving first rounders have been swapped several times in past years. Ross would bring the speed they need on the outside...when healthy of course.