5 players the Minnesota Vikings shouldn’t trade in 2020
By Dean Jones
Harrison Smith – S
As unthinkable as it may sound, there might be a slight temptation for the Vikings to explore the possibility of trading Harrison Smith.
The safety has enjoyed a sensational career with Minnesota after being taken in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He is a perennial Pro Bowler and he is still regarded as one of the more elite players operating at the position.
Smith is the undisputed leader in the Minnesota locker room and he is a commanding presence on defense. He recorded 85 total tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a sack in 2019 to further enhance his overall influence.
The 31-year-old is scheduled to count $10.75 million against the Vikings’ salary cap next season, which is the second to last year of his deal. Trading the player would represent a saving of $8.75 million, which is an enticing proposition given their salary cap restrictions.
It would take a monumental offer for Minnesota to consider letting one of their lynchpins depart for somewhere new. Smith is almost irreplaceable when you consider how well he has represented the organization on and off the field since he came into the NFL.
If his play dipped last year, then the option of trading away Smith this offseason would be more realistic. That wasn’t the case and with so many other changes expected across the defense in the coming weeks, trading away the talented safety is unfathomable.