Will Harrison Smith Be the Next Vikings Great to Be Released?
Eric Kendricks was released. Adam Thielen was released. Who's next?
According to KSTP's Darren Wolfson, there's a real possibility the Vikings end up releasing Harrison Smith, the six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who is their longest-tenured player.
"Signs point to the Vikings releasing Harrison Smith," Wolfson said on SKOR North's Scoops show. "Now, to me, that situation is still fluid. We know he's not going to be back at his current (cap hit), but could another conversation take place, could they find some sort of happy medium? This (source) said 'Hey, it's going to continue to be a bloodbath, don't be surprised if that is a move that ends up taking place.'"
Wolfson made it clear that no decision has been made and conversations are ongoing at TCO Performance Center.
Smith, 34, is under contract for three more seasons. He has a $19.1 million cap hit in 2023, so it makes sense that the Vikings are working with his representation to see if they can some kind of middle ground that keeps Smith in Minnesota. If Smith does remain with the Vikings for a 12th season, it'll be on a restructured deal that likely involves some sort of pay cut.
If the two sides can't reach an agreement — which is what happened with Thielen — it's possible another Vikings all-time great will be headed elsewhere this offseason.
This move, if it happens, would be a bit more surprising than Kendricks and Thielen being released. Smith is still playing at a very high level, tying his career-high with five interceptions last season at age 33. On paper, it seems like he'd be a great fit under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores with his instincts and versatility.
But it sure seems like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings' front office aren't messing around. They've already made some difficult decisions to move on from iconic veteran players, and more moves appear to be on the way. This is a new era of Vikings football. This offseason feels different.
Smith was drafted by the Vikings in the first round back in 2012 and has been one of the NFL's best safeties ever since. His 34 career interceptions are tied with teammate Patrick Peterson for the most among active players. Smith is a six-time Pro Bowler who was a first team All-Pro in 2017 and received second team honors the following year. He's a shoo-in for the Vikings Ring of Honor and a potential Pro Football Hall of Famer in the future.
Will he be a Viking in 2023?
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