The Minnesota Vikings have re-signed 37-year-old safety Harrison Smith to a one-year deal that is worth up to $16.25 million. Smith was the Vikings’ first-round pick way back in 2012 and has been with the organization ever since. However, it looked as though Smith was opting for retirement after last season. There were no rumors he would return this season, unlike Aaron Donald and the Rams.
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Smith remains the active NFL career interceptions leader with 39. He appeared in 15 games for the Vikings last season. Smith was still a contributor on a defense that finished as the fourth-ranked unit in the league. That defense carried a lackluster offense to a 9-8 record. It left them just short of the playoffs.
These veteran returns after training camp and the preseason ends are becoming a trend in the NFL. Observers speculate that these were planned handshake deals between players and teams. Giving veterans with experience and system knowledge the opportunity would make sense. They can skip camp wear and tear and stay in shape on their own before rejoining the team.
Smith signed after teams trimmed and finalized the league’s initial rosters. He perhaps did the organization a favor by helping them avoid cutting a younger player claimed by another team. It is possible that these strategies may become more and more frequent in the league in upcoming years, as teams are constantly searching for new ways to manipulate roster and cap limitations.
With the Vikings retaining offseason head coaching candidate Brian Flores as defensive coordinator, along with the other key pieces on the defensive side of the ball, there is no reason to believe they should not once again finish as one of the premier units in the league. The question with Minnesota will once again be the offense, but more specifically, their quarterback. The Vikings have one of the premier pass-catching units in the NFL.
Also have a head coach who calls the offensive plays and is considered one of the better offensive minds in football. Even with a disastrous quarterback situation the entire year last season, Minnesota is so good everywhere else that they had a chance at the playoffs despite a tough division. Even if they get a higher level of play at quarterback and win a couple more games this season, it is possible they still miss the playoffs if the Lions bounce back, the young Bears continue improving, or if the Packers finally take a step forward in the Jordan Love era.
