Don’t panic about the Vikings safety situation just yet
By Luke Parrish
After losing Anthony Harris in free agency, the Minnesota Vikings should not panic about his replacement.
Anthony Harris recently left the Minnesota Vikings for greener pastures, signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles for cheap.
While the Vikings let a good player walk and haven’t found his replacement yet, fans should not be too worried about the future next to Harrison Smith.
Minnesota already has a star in one of their two starting safety spots. Instead of breaking the bank to pair him with another star, the Vikings are better off moving on to cheaper and younger options.
2021 NFL Draft will offer plenty of safety help for the Minnesota Vikings
This year’s NFL Draft may not have a superstar at safety that is worth a first-round pick in Minnesota’s range, but that’s a good thing. Rather than reaching a bit on Trevon Moehrig, who has the potential to be picked in the first round, the Vikings can hold out and probably get a starting-caliber safety in the middle rounds of the draft.
Jamar Johnson is someone who fits this description as a guy who could be very much in play for Minnesota on Day 2 of the draft thanks to his versatility in the secondary.
Andre Cisco is coming off an injury that shortened his career at Syracuse, but he was a preseason first-round prospect. Aside from medical concerns, the kid can play at a high level.
Missouri’s Joshua Bledsoe met with the Vikings at the Senior Bowl and claimed they were very high on him compared to the other teams he met with. He could be another late-round option if Minnesota decides to wait for the value to match the pick.
In general, this year’s draft pool has a lot to like in the safety group with several players that can contribute from Day 1.
Oregon’s Jevon Holland is probably a bit out of the Vikings’ range since they currently have no second-round pick, but he is another versatile weapon in the secondary. Trading up to secure him with one of the several selections Minnesota has stashed in this draft would not be a terrible idea.
Hamsah Nasirildeen out of Florida State is a prospect that could replicate some of what Harrison Smith does while allowing the veteran to take on more of a deep safety role as he ages. Smith cannot play forever and molding someone into a similar role would be smart for Mike Zimmer’s defense.
The list of safeties goes on and on in this year’s draft pool with several guys who will contribute in some capacity. Minnesota may be looking for a starter, which will limit some of their options for sure, but they are not completely out of luck. Not to mention, whoever they choose will be joining a secondary with Smith and Patrick Peterson.
While losing Harris will not be easy, things could be much worse for the Vikings. I truly like this safety class more than most and there are a multitude of directions Minnesota can go in this year’s draft with the position. Don’t panic too much about the safety position just yet.