Three Minnesota Vikings players included in CBS Sports Top 100 of 2019

CBS Sports recently released their list of the 100 best players of 2019 and the placement of individuals from the Minnesota Vikings is baffling at best.

The roster of the Minnesota Vikings offers a lot of talent. Whether it is young individuals learning their way or veterans who have been consistently great over the years, the team has created some stars who regularly appear at the Pro Bowl.

That’s why it’s no surprise that any list including the best players in the NFL would likely include several individuals who wear purple and gold. And some of those names should be close to the top of the list.

However, CBS Sports recently released a list of the Top 100 players of 2019 and the placement of some of the players from the Minnesota Vikings should raise an eyebrow. In fact, not a single player from the team landed in the top 50.

Here are the players who were chosen:

• 58: Adam Thielen, WR
• 62: Harrison Smith, S
• 71: Danielle Hunter, DE

CBS Sports completely nailed the placement of Thielen and Hunter. Those seem like fair places to put Minnesota’s number one receiver as well as the team’s top pass rusher. But the fact that Smith is all the way down at 62 is absurd.

While it is debatable, Smith should be considered the best player on the team. Not only can he do anything that is asked of him in the Vikings defense but he does it all well. The way he can drop into coverage, rush the passer, or be in run support on any play allows Mike Zimmer to keep opposing offenses honest.

Putting “Harry the Hitman” at 62 is not only a disservice to Smith as a player, but it hurts the list itself in terms of its integrity. He is the 29th highest rated player on Madden NFL 20 and the second highest rated safety in the game behind only Earl Thomas of the Ravens.

The omission of players like Stefon Diggs and Everson Griffen are somewhat understandable and forgivable, but fans of the Minnesota Vikings have to really be wondering about the criteria that made Harrison Smith fall so far on this list from CBS Sports.