Vikings Insider Raises Red Flag Over $19 Million Pro Bowler

Harrison Smith‘s future with the Minnesota Vikings is uncertain.

According to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, the six-time Pro Bowler considered retiring last summer before rejoining the Vikings on a reworked contract that reduced his $14.7 million basic pay to $8 million for the 2023 campaign.

However, the latter few years of his contract are excessively long and require revision as well. If the Vikings want to extend Justin Jefferson and make decisions at other elite positions like quarterback and edge rusher, his $19.2 million 2024 cap charge cannot stay as it is.

“I don’t think he’ll ever return to that number. On the “Access Vikings” podcast on December 28, Goessling stated, “It would be a matter of doing what they did last year and revising his base salary for 2024—cutting that number fairly significantly to get him back here.”

Harrison Smith’s Vikings Future May Rely on Brian Flores

Smith is in the latter stages of his career and is getting close to 35 years old. With a 69.8 defensive rating, he is ranked 36th among tight ends by Pro Football Focus (PFF). It would be difficult to contest his $19.21 million 2024 season price tag.

Nonetheless, he remains useful, particularly with Brian Flores in charge, who has used three safeties this season.

As the team’s core defenders, Josh Metellus, Cam Bynum, and Smith top the squad in snaps, having played more than 1,000 snaps apiece. With one game remaining in the regular season, the defense had a dramatic makeover in its first year under Flores, going from ranking 28th in points allowed in 2022 to 12th in points allowed.

Flores’ work in Minnesota has made him a strong candidate for a number of head coach openings across the league in the near future. It would be difficult for the Vikings to defend Smith’s retention if he goes and they don’t find a coordinator willing to scheme three safeties.

Metellus and Bynum cost a combined $3.45 million against the cap next year compared to Smith’s $19.21 million cap hit.

Over The Cap has valued Smith’s 2023 performance to be worth $8.02 million, which would be in the ballpark of what a restructured real might look like for him.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell gave Smith a tip of his cap in hopes he would return next season.

One of my all-time favorite players that I’ve had the opportunity to teach is Harrison Smith. After what may have been Smith’s last game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 16, O’Connell remarked, “I feel very fortunate to have been in the head coach position with a guy like Harrison.”

“I could talk for hours about how much Harrison represents to so many individuals. I sincerely hope that this is not the end for him because, in my selfish opinion, he improves every aspect of what I just mentioned and I want him to remain a part of our squad, defense, and program. In this league, that’s what truly distinguishes great players, and he most definitely is and has been

The new Vikings regime’s first draft pick has not panned out as planned. Selected No. 32 overall in 2022, Lewis Cine has barely seen the field in his first two seasons.

His rookie year was derailed by a devastating leg injury, but he’s since made a full recovery. It hasn’t been Cine’s athleticism that has kept him off the field, but more so his mastery of Flores’ scheme.

The Vikings have played five safeties ahead of him, including players between the practice squad and active roster in Theo Jackson and Jay Ward.

Cine made his first appearance on defense last week against the Green Bay Packers, logging eight snaps at strong safety and the first tackle of his career.

But if Cine can’t make significant strides in his third training camp next summer, he could be a roster-cut candidate, considering his lack of involvement this season.