One Surprising Viking Made the ‘Top 100’ List
Dustin Baker
|
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw recently garnered inclusion in Pete Prisco’s Top 100 NFL Players of 2023.
That was to be expected.
One Surprising Viking Made the ‘Top 100’ List
What wasn’t expected was the ‘other’ guy in the Top 100 — safety Harrison Smith.
Of course, if the clock were merely rewound about three years, slapping Smith in any NFL Top 100 list would be sensible, if not expected, or even mandatory. But the 34-year-old is finishing up his career and evidently still has the juice for Top 100 lists. Impressive.
Prisco placed Smith at No. 97, so right on the edge of the rankings. He briefly explained, “The Vikings miscast him last season, playing him mostly in the deep middle, but he should be rejuvenated in the new defense under Brian Flores.”
Smith was slated to inflict the third-largest cap hit on the team’s books in 2023, about $19.1 million — a sum considered by some as too much for an aging safety. Ergo, Vikings fans and media debated and speculated Smith’s next steps for about two months, culminating in paycut accepted by Smith in March. His cap number for this season is now $11.8 million.
The aforementioned Jefferson earned the No. 7 spot on Prisco’s list, wedged between Travis Kelce (Chiefs, No. 6) and Micah Parsons (No. 8, Cowboys.) Prisco said about Jefferson in the Top 7, “He led the NFL in catches (128) and yards (1,809), while also leading in receptions of 20 or more yards (28). He is the league’s best receiver heading into next season.”
Darrisaw ranked at No. 56 between D.K. Metcalf (Seahawks, No. 55) and Deebo Samuel (49ers, No. 57). Free agent Dalvin Cook also found a spot on the CBS Sports list at No. 94.
Smith has been a member of the Vikings since 2012 and is the longest-tenured player — by far — on the roster. He was the NFL’s 37th-best safety in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus, but the Vikings defense often looked uncoordinated without him. And with Lewis Cine injured for the season early in October, Minnesota would’ve been down to peanuts without Smith on the depth chart. Now, with Brian Flores in charge, Smith will have free reign in the Vikings secondary, likely to be utilized as a pass rusher more frequently to align with Flores’ aggressive modus operandi.
The 34-year-old leads all NFL safeties in tackles and interceptions since turning pro in 2012 and is second in sacks via the same metric.
One New Viking Is ‘Tough as Hell’
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.