The Minnesota Vikings need a starting safety after Anthony Harris found a new team in free agency.
Free agency has been interesting for the Minnesota Vikings. The team has made a couple of big splashes to improve their defense and have been adding some depth and role players with other signings. However, one of the team’s exiting players is leaving a big hole in the defense that will need to be filled.
Anthony Harris will be a member of the Eagles in 2021 after coming to terms on a one-year deal that will see him make $5M according to Adam Schefter on Twitter. This makes the starting spot opposite Harrison Smith vacant heading into the 2021 NFL season.
There are some options for filling this spot. The Vikings can use a player already on the roster, sign a safety in free agency, or look to the draft for their next starting safety. No matter what route the team takes, someone will be in that spot when Week 1 of the regular season rolls around.
Let’s take a look at six options for players to start for the Minnesota Vikings at safety this season and what it might take for them to be in the role as well as why they could be great for the job going forward.
Josh Metellus – Currently on Vikings roster
The Minnesota Vikings roster doesn’t have much in terms of safeties on their roster. Of course, Harrison Smith will be returning as one of the starters for the 2021 NFL season but the players under him on the depth chart are wild cards with Josh Metellus and Luther Kirk having question marks around them.
Metellus played in 15 games for the Vikings last season but didn’t start a single game and only had 16 total snaps on defense according to Pro Football Reference, regulating his duties mostly to his 262 special teams snaps.
If Minnesota whiffs in free agency and fails to cover the need in the 2021 NFL Draft, they may have to look to their untested safety to beat out whatever undrafted free agents the Vikings pick up to fill out the roster.
Two fumble recoveries and nine combined tackles aren’t going to bring any fear into the hearts of opposing teams. This might be the worst option of any of the choices on the list, but it is hard to know until Metellus gets more time and opportunities in the Vikings’ defense.
Andrew Sendejo – Free agent, Browns
A reunion between the Minnesota Vikings and Andrew Sendejo may not get the fan base excited for the 2021 season but there are some factors that would make signing the physical defensive back a logical move for the purple and gold.
The familiarity between Sendejo and the Vikings’ defense is a big boost to his appeal. He spent over eight years in Minnesota unleashing some of the biggest hits in franchise history in an effort to “make football violent again” in the NFL.
Sendejo has started 75 games over the course of his NFL career and played in a total of 124 contests. Having him be the starter opposite Smith would give the team an experienced defender but one who will be turning 34 years old this fall.
Minnesota could do much worse than Andrew Sendejo at safety and the biggest appeal for him has to be what should be a very low price tag. His services should be available for close to league minimum, which would make him a solid signing even if he doesn’t win a starting job.
Kenny Vaccaro – Free agent, Titans
If the Minnesota Vikings are willing to spend a little more money in free agency, they may look to bring in Kenny Vaccaro. The team missed out on bringing back Anthony Harris or signing Keanu Neal for $5M each but could still open their wallet for a higher-profile defender.
Vaccaro’s previous deal with Tennessee saw him set to make $24M over four years, an average of $6M per season. A deal with the 30-year-old defensive back isn’t likely to bring that kind of price tag during this salary cap-starved season with so many safeties still available.
Having 109 starts in 110 games played is an impressive mark. Minnesota has a nice blend of experience and youth in their secondary but having another veteran at safety could help the new players learn the ropes if he signs a short-term deal.
The statistics don’t pop for Vaccaro. Ten interceptions over the course of eight seasons with four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries won’t drop jaws, but signing him to a deal does put an experienced body in the secondary for the 2021 NFL season.
Trevon Moehrig – 2021 NFL Draft, TCU
Spending money or looking to current talent are only two ways to get a potential starting safety. The Minnesota Vikings could invest a pick in the 2021 NFL Draft in finding a long-term answer at the position.
If Minnesota is serious about that investment, they could use their first-round pick or trade back to grab the top-rated safety on the big board of CBS Sports. Trevon Moehrig is working through a back injury during his Pro Day and workouts, but that shouldn’t keep him from being the first safety selected at the draft.
Moehrig started 33 games over three years at TCU where he defended 21 passes, intercepting seven of those throws. He also racked up 124 tackles over that span and even notching 4.5 tackles for a loss.
Using Trevon Moehrig in coverage would allow the Vikings to put Harrison Smith in several situations where he could keep opposing offenses on their toes through blitzes or run support. But investing a high pick on him might not be the best value at the position.
Paris Ford – 2021 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh
Waiting until the third round or so in the 2021 NFL Draft would allow the Minnesota Vikings to use their top pick on the best player available while still being able to grab a safety with high potential using their later picks.
Around the third round, it would be interesting to Minnesota use a pick on Pittsburgh safety Paris Ford. A gambling safety who can be a playmaker, Ford has a nose for the football and has been a regular inclusion in my mock drafts lately.
Ford is prospect number 98 on the big board of CBS Sports and it is a bit confusing as to why he is so low. While his tackling form needs to be cleaned up at the NFL level, he has the instincts to make great plays and the physical play to make receivers think twice about catching the ball in traffic.
Ford ended his three years at Pittsburgh six interceptions in 21 games played while adding 5.5 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. Those stats are impressive and should make him a player the Vikings are interested in selecting at the draft.
Patrick Peterson – Currently on the Vikings roster
This is a little outside the box, but playing Patrick Peterson at safety could be just the thing to not only maximize the value of their $10M free agent signing but also get their best possible players on the field every Sunday.
The idea of playing Peterson at safety was shared by former Packers defender LeRoy Butler who told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press that the move would be an interesting one that would mirror what Green Bay did with Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson heading into the 2012 NFL season when he was 36 years old.
Even having the option of playing Peterson at safety would open up options in free agency and the draft to allow the team not to get locked into looking for a specific position or skill set and instead base their selections on talent and fit across all defensive back spots.
Minnesota’s newest DB is only 30 years old at the moment but has 154 starts under his belt over the course of his 10-year career in the NFL. Although this could be a possibility, having a veteran at cornerback might be a much better use of Peterson’s talents instead of changing his position heading into his first season with the Minnesota Vikings.
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Who would you like to see be the new starting safety for the Minnesota Vikings heading into the 2021 NFL season? And is there one player you’d want the team to avoid at all costs? Let us know your opinion in the comments.