Dec 9, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) celebrates a sack during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
I never thought I’d see the day when Harrison Smith started to be underappreciated by Vikings fans.
Over the last year or so, that has started to happen. So, I’m here to tell you that Harrison Smith is as good as ever. Father time catches up with all of us, so the 10-year veteran who turns 33 in February will lose his powers on the gridiron eventually. But hat time has not come yet. Maybe he’s lost half step over the years, but his football intelligence is worth more than makes up for that.
For the last year, he has been given the burden of babysitting a terrible Vikings secondary. He was spending too much time doing that and not enough time doing what he does best — impact the game. Not many players can impact a game on all three areas of defense as The Hitman can. Whether it is pass-rush, run defense, or in coverage, Smith is equally good.
Recently, with the first half against the Steelers being a prime example, there is an increase in Smith coming up to the line of scrimmage. That’s where the Vikings need Harrison Smith. His ability to disguise his intentions and change at the last moment is what makes him so unique. Don’t take my word for it. Take it from Aaron Rodgers.
His hard-hitting nature is what endeared him to a lot of us while causing him to fall foul of officiating – often erroneously. He looks as strong as ever and is in excellent physical condition. There was one play in particular against the Steelers that showcased everything great about Smith.
Pro Football Focus grades him at 79.1, which is the 10th-best for a safety in the NFL. It might not be the 92.3 grade from 2017, but the supporting cast isn’t on the same level either.
The more Mike Zimmer deploys him as he did in the first half against Pittsburgh, not only will it be better for Harrison Smith personally, but for the defense as a unit. Babysitting the corners hasn’t worked, and with Patrick Peterson playing — shouldn’t be necessary.
As understandably reluctant as coach Zimmer is to trust in his cornerbacks, considering their performances this season, the best way to help them is to get pressure on the opposing quarterback. On Monday night, the Minnesota Vikings head to Soldier Field to take on rookie quarterback Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears. The young quarterback is having a difficult first year in the NFL – it doesn’t seem so slow anymore. Putting Fields under pressure early on Monday will be vital to the Vikings winning the game. Then, they must maintain that pressure. Harrison Smith will be a huge part of that.
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Giving a 32-year-old a four-year, $64 million contract extension will raise some eyebrows. A $20 million cap hit for a 36-year-old in 2025 doesn’t sound smart, but it only comes with $1.9 million in dead cap space. The Vikings could get out of the contract after the 2022 season for just $5.7 million, which is a fair price for a player who is still great this season and will be next.
Who knows how long Harrison Smith ends up staying with the Vikings? Like many others, I would love nothing more than to see him retire with the franchise. He’s been a great servant and tremendous player for this franchise, with plenty more left in the tank. The All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl safety is still great and one of the best in the game.
Most importantly, he is more than just a safety. He is arguably the most important player on this defense. The void he will leave when he finally leaves or retires will be massive.