The Minnesota Vikings have barnstormed free agency through 26 hours, adding impactful players left and right.
The Vikings Have an Elephant in the Room
Minnesota has signed these men so far:
- Ryan Kelly (Center)
- Will Fries (Offensive Guard)
- Jonathan Allen (Defensive Tackle)
- Javon Hargrave (Defensive Tackle)
- Isaiah Rodgers (Cornerback)
And while that’s fantastic — utterly fantastic — the Vikings still have an elephant in the room: Harrison Smith’s future.
Why? Well, simple — general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will probably need another safety if Smith retires. In an ordinary offseason, his contractual situation or retirement plans would have been decided by now.
They’re not yet, not this go-round.
Minnesota re-signed Theo Jackson last Friday, a wise, economical move, but most believed that transaction occurred because Smith would return for Year No. 14. There’s no confirmation of that through the first segment of free agency.
Meanwhile, impactful free-agent safeties like Jevon Holland, Tre’Von Moehrig, and Talanoa Hufango are off the board. They won’t be joining the Vikings.
A source told VikingsTerritory in late January that Smith is “50-50” about retiring or coming back for Year No. 14, which felt like an upgrade after his postgame comments following Minnesota’s playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber asked Smith what was next for him in the offseason that night, and he replied, “I don’t know. Probably chill out for a little bit, figure that out down the road.”
“I haven’t wanted to think about it, kind of selfishly live in the moment, and I’m kind of still in that moment. It’ll come when it comes,” Smith said.
Minnesota’s defense ranked second in the NFL per EPA/Play this season, and Smith was a consistent starter in the secondary. He was not “one of those” old defenders who played sparingly.
The 36-year-old added after the playoff defeat, “There’s a lot that goes into this. It’s not strictly players. I just want to give my thanks to everybody that makes it go. Obviously, I wish we could’ve had a better result today, but it’s a tough pill to swallow right now. It’s been one of the most fun teams I’ve ever played on in any level. There’s a lot to be said about this group, and I really just wish I had a couple more weeks with them, to be honest.”
Smith isn’t known for the dramatic — at all — so he should fire up the tweet or announcement soon.
Minnesota drafted Smith in Round 1 of the 2012 NFL Draft, one of the finest choices in franchise history. He’s never played anywhere else, nor even really flirted with the idea when his contract was up.
If Smith retires, these free-agent safeties remain available in free agency:
- Marcus Epps
- Damar Hamlin
- Rayshawn Jenkins
- Justin Reid
- Juan Thornhill
- Xavier Woods
Otherwise, Minnesota has four picks in April’s draft.
On the whole, the Vikings must receive Smith’s verdict soon so they know how to plan 2025 at safety.
Perhaps they already know.
The Vikings — Finally — Did the Thing
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.