The Minnesota Vikings are among the winners of free agency thus far, though the franchise made a significant move on Wednesday with a player already on the roster.
Minnesota restructured the contract of safety Harrison Smith on March 12, clearing the way for the six-time Pro Bowler to return to the roster for his 14th NFL campaign.
“Harrison Smith’s new deal is worth around $11 million, with incentives bringing it up to $14 million, per source,” Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote. “[Defensive coordinator] Brian Flores did not want to lose him, nor did [head coach] Kevin O’Connell, and the Vikings made sure to get it done.”
Minnesota not only avoided losing Smith to retirement with the new deal, the team also avoided the necessity of cutting him ahead of Friday, when the safety’s deal — had it remained in its former structure — would have triggered a guaranteed $25 million in 2026.
Smith, who will play next season at 36 years old, was an even bigger priority after fellow safety Camryn Bynum left Minnesota for a sizable contract from the Indianapolis Colts. Smith will play alongside safety Theo Jackson, who the Vikings inked to a two-year deal worth $12.6 million this offseason.
Jackson’s deal indicated a strong possibility that either Bynum or Smith would depart in free agency. As it turned out, Minnesota stuck with the experienced and less expensive veteran rather than paying big money to keep Bynum on the roster.
The Vikings were able to use some of the money they saved on Bynum to re-sign star cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. to a new three-year deal.
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