5 breakout players for the Minnesota Vikings in 2018

(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) Anthony Harris
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) Anthony Harris
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(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Anthony Harris
(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Anthony Harris

1. Anthony Harris – S

Harris has had an interesting career with the Vikings. He came in as an undrafted rookie out of Virginia in 2015 and him not being picked was widely attributed to a shoulder injury.

Harris was signed to the practice squad that year and he has kind of just hung around since. Year after year, he always seemed to be on the roster bubble, but he always made the team, eventually becoming Harrison Smith’s primary backup and a solid special teams player.

Last season, Harris got a chance to start when Andrew Sendejo was hurt and put on injured reserve in Week 9.  Harris went ahead and played out of his mind.

He was making plays all over the field showing great range, and exceptional coverage skills. Harris ended 2018 with 46 tackles, three interceptions, and six pass breakups. Which is even more impressive when you consider he did most of that in basically half a year.

By season’s end, teams just quit throwing the ball his way. The Vikings have been looking for a compliment to Smith for many years now and it turns out they had one right there under their nose the entire time.

Harris becomes a free-agent this offseason and Minnesota would be wise to work their salary cap magic and find a way to bring this guy back long term, as he’s definitely earned it.

(For more NFL Draft and Vikings-related content from Nik Edlund, head on over to SkolHole.com and check out his work.)

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