Does Harrison Smith Remain Reliable?
In August, the Minnesota Vikings signed safety Harrison Smith to a four-year contract extension taking him through the 2024 season. At the end of that deal, Smith will be 36-years-old. Despite rewarding Minnesota with another Pro Bowl last season, it’s worth wondering how long the veteran can hang on.
Drafted 29th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, Smith immediately became a starter and has now played in 145 games during his career. He’s accumulated nearly 900 tackles in his career and has picked off 29 passes. Accolades include six Pro-Bowl selections and an All-Pro designation. To suggest he’s been a star for the Vikings would be underselling it.
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At some point, though, age matters.
Last season, Smith was paired with Xavier Woods in the Minnesota secondary. Woods came from the Dallas Cowboys as a 6th-round pick and had racked up 60 games played by the age of 25 when he joined the Vikings. Not nearly as decorated or accomplished as his teammate, Woods put up solid numbers for Mike Zimmer’s defense in picking off three passes, racking up 10 passes defended, and forcing a pair of fumbles.
This offseason, Minnesota opted against bringing Woods back, and he signed a three-year pact with the Carolina Panthers that will pay him $15.75 million. A $5 million signing bonus was tied to the deal, and over $6 million of the contract was fully guaranteed. The reason Minnesota seemed willing to pass on a return tour was none other than Cameron Bynum.
Taken in the 4th round of last year’s draft, Bynum saw action in 14 games, drawing three starts as a rookie. He recorded his first career interception and generated three passes defended with 28 tackles in his limited action. Despite the small sample size, there was a need to get the talented California native a more prominent role.
Now being coached by former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, Bynum will have a new voice to impress. Donatell had the Broncos within the top ten last season when it came to yards given up per game, and despite an offense lacking a real quarterback and much firepower, his unit kept them in games. The hope would be that Donatell can take what Zimmer left him and return the Minnesota defense to a threat across the league.
For Smith, it’s probably becoming the point when a new wave is ushered in. While his play hasn’t decreased dramatically, as evidenced by the Pro-Bowl selection, it’s also apparent he’s not who he once was. With age becoming a factor, this could be a pivotal campaign in which Smith mentors Bynum and begins to pass the torch.
Given the uncertainties at the cornerback position, it’s a good thing the Vikings aren’t seeing complete turnover at the back end of their secondary. Bynum stepping up is just half of the unit, but someone soon may be tasked with pushing a Minnesota legend to the side. Although the extension has three more years attached to it, the time has come to prepare for what’s next.
There’s little reason to believe that Smith won’t go down as one of the best to ever play for the Minnesota Vikings, and he may have a shot at even loftier awards when his playing career ends. Reality says that age eventually gets us all, though, and having a plan for when that happens could be a good thing for Minnesota to start thinking about.
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