Harrison Smith is a Top 50 Player According to Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus has finished revealing its annual Top 101 players list, and this year three Vikings were deemed worthy of making the cut.

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Interestingly enough, all three Vikings in the top 101 are defensive players. In past years the Vikings have gotten offensive players like Adrian Peterson, John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt onto the list, but none of those guys made it this year (for a variety of reasons).

The top Viking according to PFF’s army of tape-watchers? That would be safety Harrison Smith, who came in at #49 (via PFF):

"Smith continued his ascent to being one of the best safeties in the league with an effort that would earn him the second highest grade of all safeties. While he did grade positively in coverage, it was his tremendous work against the run that propelled him so high in this list. He is one safety who certainly lived up to the hype being a former first rounder."

Smith’s teammates Sharrif Floyd (83) and Everson Griffen (98) also cracked the list. Robert Blanton earned nice grades from PFF over the course of the season, but missed out on the top 101.

And Matt Kalil, Brian Robison and Chad Greenway…I don’t know where they ultimately ranked if you extended the list out to include the entire league, but I’m fairly certain none of those guys got close to the top 101.

But enough negativity. Congrats to Harrison Smith, Sharrif Floyd and Everson Griffen on their strong seasons.

We know Mike Zimmer doesn’t care for PFF, but it’s still cool to see the Vikings’ improving defense get its props by placing 3 players on the run down of the best in the league. Next year, let’s get even more.

Next: Is Trae Waynes Overrated Garbage?

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