4 best undrafted Vikings players during the Rick Spielman era
By Dustin Baker
Anthony Harris – S
If you’re a card-carrying Rick Spielman detractor, it’s probably a rational idea to study the 2015 offseason before you author your memoirs. In that year’s NFL draft, alone, Spielman added Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, Stefon Diggs, and Trae Waynes to the organization. And, he wasn’t done there.
Spielman proceeded to find undrafted safety Anthony Harris from the University of Virginia. Harris played sparingly during his first three seasons with the Vikings as head coach Mike Zimmer deferred to a tandem of Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo as his two starting safeties.
But in 2018, Harris emerged and indisputably took over the starting job from the aforementioned Sendejo. Ever since then, Harris has been the bonafide free safety opposite Harrison Smith. The experiment has been rather triumphant.
Harris pulled down six interceptions in 2019 and this tied for the lead the NFL. However, he was still snubbed for Pro Bowl recognition and he was ignored in the latest NFL Top 100 list. But one more season of consistent output should create some bigger blips on national radars.