Minnesota Vikings: Big extension for Harrison Smith likely
By Adam Carlson
With Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith entering his final year under contract, the team will need to lock him down to a long-term extension soon.
With the 2015 season coming to an end, it is time to look ahead to 2016 for the Minnesota Vikings. One of the most essential young pieces to the team is former 2012 first round draft pick Harrison Smith.
The Vikings do have Smith under contract for the 2016 season because of the fifth year option on his rookie contract, but the team has a history of locking down important players to long-term deals during the offseason before their deal expires. Because of that, Minnesota should be looking to work out a deal with Smith and his agent this quite soon.
Recently, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com contributed to an article discussing predictions for each team this offseason, and the focus of the section on the Minnesota Vikings was focused on safety Harrison Smith.
Here is what Goessling had to say:
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"“The Vikings will get a contract extension done with safety Harrison Smith, who’s entering his fifth season and went to his first Pro Bowl in 2015. The Vikings already picked up Smith’s fifth-year option, and the franchise tag would be affordable for Smith in 2017, but their modus operandi has been to lock up their top draft picks before they hit free agency, and they’ll want to draft a deal that gives them cost certainty for the next several seasons. The Vikings have been planning for a Smith extension, and they’ll have him locked up before they start the 2016 season.”"
Goessling’s statement on Harrison Smith isn’t really a bold one. Fans of the Minnesota Vikings have seen how valuable a player of his caliber can be to the team’s defense. While the team is still searching for a reliable, consistent safety to play next to him, the Vikings can rely on Smith to make plays and elevate the play of others around him any time that he’s on the field.
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With Smith scheduled to make $5.2 million next year, working out a long term deal should be in the best interest in both the player and the Minnesota Vikings. However, sometimes things are more complicated during negotiations when a player and team have different values on the importance of a player. Thankfully, that shouldn’t be an issue with Harrison Smith.