6 Vikings free-agents who will return to the team in 2019

Anthony Harris – S

Anthony Harris is kind of like the girl next door in a romantic comedy film. The dreamy guy (the Vikings) is always looking for the hotter option, but what he really needs has been right in front of him for years and he finally comes to this realization just before the final credits roll.

Harris has been with Minnesota since the team signed him as an undrafted free-agent in 2015.  He made the Vikings’ practice squad and then he slowly worked his way up to special teams, then to a backup safety, and then he got his chance to start for a good amount of games in 2018 after Andrew Sendejo got hurt.

Harris made the most of his opportunity last season. In nine starts, he totaled 46 tackles, six pass breakups, and three interceptions. If his per game averages during these nine matchups were stretched out over a full season, his stats would have amounted to 75 tackles, seven pass breakups, and four interceptions.

Harris was so good, that late in the season opposing team’s just quit throwing the ball his way. The guy was a big-time playmaker and he showed that he can be the partner next to Harrison Smith that Minnesota has been looking for all these years.

Harris should be the team’s priority signing this offseason. He is still only 27-years-old and the lights have just come on for this guy. He appears ready to bust out with a huge season and he should get paid accordingly.

If the Vikings choose to keep Harris this year, it could come at the expense of guys like Sendejo and Everson Griffen. Minnesota doesn’t have a lot of money to spend this offseason, but salary cap guru Rob Brzezinski seems to always make it work.

The Vikings would be wise to invest in Harris this year, who appears ready to be a big-time NFL safety.

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