Harrison Smith Agrees to Pay Cut to Remain in Minnesota in 2024
Vikings safety Harrison Smith has agreed to a restructured deal that will keep him in Minnesota for a 13th season in 2024, according to Tom Pelissero. He'll make $9 million this year, which is a notable step down from his previous cap hit of $19.2 million.
After last season, there was some thought that Smith might call it a career this offseason or potentially be released by the Vikings for cap savings. Instead, he's agreed to a restructured contract and pay cut to remain with the only NFL franchise he's ever known.
Smith was a first-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2012 who started every game as a rookie and hasn't looked back since. He's played in 183 games for the Vikings over the years (including playoffs), starting 182 of them. Smith made six Pro Bowls in a seven-year span from 2015-21 and was a first team All-Pro in 2017. Despite finishing without an interception last year for just the second time in his career, he still played at a fairly high level in Brian Flores' defense. His three sacks against the Panthers in Week 4 were key in that win.
Smith, who turned 35 in February, has 34 interceptions, 19.5 sacks, 86 passes defended, 12 forced fumbles, and over 1,000 tackles in his career. He's a franchise legend, a no-doubt future Vikings Ring of Honor inductee, and potentially a future Pro Football Hall of Famer. Another productive season or two could help his case to end up in Canton.
The Vikings are running it back with the same safety trio that was so successful last year: Smith, Josh Metellus, and Camryn Bynum.
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