Minnesota Vikings Legend Signs Contract Extension

13-year veteran safety Harrison Smith has signed a one-year, $10.25 million contract with the Vikings. Smith, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time First-Team All-Pro, spent the entirety of his career with the Minnesota Vikings.

Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings, Agree to Contract

Despite playing in his age-35 season, Harrison Smith remained one of the league’s better safeties while performing admirably under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Starting and appearing in 16 games, the former first-round pick finished his season with three interceptions, 10 passes defended, one sack, 87 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one quarterback hit, and a 67.7 PFF grade, the 36th-best mark out of 98 eligible players. Smith helped the Vikings make the playoffs while winning 14 games, but the team ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.

Harrison Smith originally entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Selected by the Minnesota Vikings, the Notre Dame product immediately became a crucial piece of the defense, starting all 16 games while recording three interceptions, 10 passes defended, one sack, 104 tackles, one tackle-f0r-loss, two quarterback hits, and an 84.5 PFF grade. He remained a franchise cornerstone but started to earn national acclaim in 2015.

Making the first of his six Pro Bowl appearances, Smith recorded two interceptions, three passes defended, one forced fumble, 1.5 sacks, 66 tackles, and an 85.0 PFF grade in just 13 games. His best season likely came in 2017, when he started all 16 games and finished the season with five interceptions, 12 passes defended, 1.5 sacks, 78 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, three quarterback hits, and a 91.8 PFF grade, the best in the NFL. In addition to the Pro Bowl, the safety also earned First-Team All-Pro honors and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Since signing his rookie contract, Harrison Smith has appeared in 192 games while making 191 starts. While on the field, the Notre Dame product has recorded 37 interceptions, 96 passes defended, 20.5 sacks, 1,126 tackles, 48 tackles-for-loss, and 43 quarterback hits.