Harrison Smith Agrees to Contract Restructure to Stay with Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are going through a lot of changes this offseason and there will be more moving and shaking to come… but it won’t include longtime safety Harrison Smith. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Smith has agreed to a contract restructure in order to stay in purple and gold for a 13th season.

Six-time Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith has agreed to a restructured contract and will play a 13th season with the #Vikings at age 35, per sources.

The 29th overall pick in 2012, Smith has 34 career INTs, becoming one of the best safeties of his era… and he’s not done yet. pic.twitter.com/Wt1PjmlEzr

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2024

Smith was set to count $19.2 million against the team’s salary cap in 2024, a big hit for any player, let alone a 35-year-old safety. But now, ‘one of us’ Pelissero reports that Harry The Hitman will count just $9 million against the cap this upcoming season.

Harrison Smith – Minnesota Vikings lifer

Prior to the restructure, Smith was also under contract for 2024-25. We’ll see how this restructure affects that. But no matter what the contract says, Smith is year-to-year, at this point in his career. Smith hasn’t been recognized as an All-Pro since 2018, but he’s clearly still playing at a high level and will remain a key piece of Brian Flores’ defense next season.

• Harrison Smith stats (2023): 93 tackles (2 TFL), 3 FF, 3 Sacks, 3 PD

Pro Football Focus had Smith graded as their 34th-ranked safety, 31st in coverage, and 50th in run defense in the first year playing in Flores’ aggressive blitz-heavy scheme. Now, he’ll get a chance to improve upon those ranks with what the team hopes is a more complete defensive unit that now has more familiarity with the 3-4 defense.

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