All good things must come to an end. For the past few seasons Harrison Smith has talked about what the end of his career could look like. This season the Minnesota Vikings have been better than expected, and he could now ride off into the sunset.
Minnesota Vikings secondary will look different
Harrison Smith was the 29th overall pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, which makes this his 13th year in the NFL. It appears that it will also be his last and Kevin O’Connell will need to deal with the defensive turnover. Local insider Charley Walters provided an update on the situation.
“It’s clear the Vikings will re-sign cornerback Byron Murphy, who has six interceptions this season, and probably safety Cam Bynum, because it’s unlikely Harrison Smith, who turns 36 next month after 13 seasons, will return.”
Charley Walters on the Vikings secondary (Pioneer Press)
Smith has played in 192 regular season games. He has racked up 1,126 total tackles, has 37 interceptions, and 20.5 career interceptions. The six-time Pro Bowl selection, and one-time All-Pro is likely to be a strong candidate for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.
With Smith hanging up his cleats, O’Connell and Brian Flores ( or his replacement) will need to trust another leader on the defense. That’s where a level of continuity comes in.
Recent additions could return for Minnesota
Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is in his second year with the Vikings after spending his first four with Arizona. He has become a mainstay on the defense and has picked off a career-high six passes this season.
He signed a two-year, $17.5 million deal , prior to the 2023 season. Murphy Jr. will certainly be in line for a raise after starring for Minnesota. With aging veteran Stephon Gilmore unlikely to return, Murphy Jr. will enter as the top cornerback.
Safety Cam Bynum is less likely to return, but Walters is reporting that Minnesota will have interest. He has become synonymous with some of the best celebrations in the league, but also is a strong defender.
A former fourth-round pick, Bynum has a career-best three interceptions this season. His 96 tackles didn’t match the 137 he put up last season, but he has cemented himself alongside Smith at the back of the defense.
Still on his rookie deal, four years for just under $4.2 million, Bynum is going to get more than that total on an annual basis. Minnesota needs to continue putting a strong foot forward on the defensive side. Continuity is one way to achieve that.
