Harrison Smith of the Vikings is the 3rd highest paid safety in the NFL

Harrison Smith is making a lot of money as a safety for the Minnesota Vikings, but many fans don’t understand the value he brings to the team.

Casual NFL fans are shocked when they realize that Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith is the third highest paid safety in the NFL. Avid NFL and Vikings fans will tell you that “Harry the Hitman” is worth every single penny.

Harrison Smith recently appeared on the list of the highest paid safeties in the NFL, raising the eyebrows of casual fans who may not be familiar with his name. Here is that list as shared by the NFL on Twitter:

2012 Season

Harrison Smith was overlooked by many teams in the 2012 NFL draft before he was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 29th pick of the draft. As a rookie he started in all 16 games and finished the season with 104 combined tackles. Smith ranked 4th in tackles among safeties in the NFL and pulled in 3 interceptions and 2 defensive touchdowns. His play was a big reason the Vikings were able to claim a playoff spot that season.  This was the start of his amazing Minnesota Vikings career.

2013 Season

Smith only played in 8 games in 2013 due to injury. He would have been one of the most talked about players in the NFL had he remained healthy at the pace he was going that season.  In those 8 games he recorded 58 combined tackles and 2 interceptions.

2014 Season

No one really knew what to expect from Harrison Smith in 2014 after coming off a season ending injury. It didn’t take long for him to ease fan’s doubts after starting all 16 games for the Vikings. He ended the season with 92 combined tackles, 5 interceptions, and 3 sacks. Despite these impressive numbers, he did not receive an invite to the 2014 pro bowl.

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2015 Season

After being left out of the pro bowl the previous season Harrison came back in 2015 with something to prove. He only played in 13 games because of an injury. In those 13 games he made 66 combined tackles and had 2 interceptions. Not the best numbers of his career but Smith is the type of player who does what ever is asked of him and is often an unsung hero. His unselfish play helped the Vikings get a playoff berth against the Seattle Seahawks. It also earned him his first pro bowl appearance.

2016 Season

This past season Harrison Smith showed he is a top safety in the NFL. He is the heart and soul of the Viking defense that showed everyone how good they can be during that 5-0 start. He finished the season with 91 combined tackles and 2 sacks in 14 games played. Smith also was selected to a second consecutive pro bowl appearance.

Harrison Smith did not receive the national attention he deserves until after the 2015 season when he was finally selected to a pro bowl. The contract he signed in 2016 that has him currently the third highest paid safety in the NFL was well warranted.

Next: What is next for the Vikings and their backfield?

Smith’s numbers have been impressive and consistent. He has done everything the coaching staff has asked him to do and is a hard-hitting machine on the field. He has never put up flashy numbers which is why some people are surprised to find out that he is the third highest paid safety. This is a case were consistent hard work paid off. At roughly $10.3 million a year, Harrison Smith is worth every single penny.