Latest news with #HarrisonSmith
NBC Sports
22-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Harrison Smith: Vikings have to take it to level we haven't hit before
Safety Harrison Smith is back for a 14th season with the Vikings, but he isn't looking for more of the same. Smith has made All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams while helping Minnesota make the playoffs six times, which has made him a face of the franchise. None of those trips to the playoffs have resulted in Super Bowl appearances and Smith said on Monday that now is the time for the Vikings to push themselves beyond where they've gone in the past. 'There's a foundation that's been set that, you can notice it — things operate pretty smoothly, and the people here are giving high-level effort and winning a lot of ball games,' Smith said, via the team's website. 'But there's another level that we need to get to, and in this business, you have to do it right now. It's not like, 'Oh, you know, year one was good. Let's just keep trying,' It's got to happen right now. I think moving forward, that emphasis of, 'Turn it up a little bit to a level we haven't been before' — that is necessary to get where we want to go.' Smith and the defense will be a big part of anything the Vikings do this season, but their ultimate ceiling may have more to do with how quarterback J.J. McCarthy fares in his first season running the offense in Minnesota.
Chicago Tribune
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
NFL draft: Minnesota Vikings eye defensive backs, with potential to find successor for Harrison Smith
MINNEAPOLIS — Offseason roster arrangement for the Minnesota Vikings over the past few years has included a running theme: Will Harrison Smith retire or return? The six-time Pro Bowl safety has re-upped for a 14th season, stabilizing an unsettled secondary yet again. Smith has continued to capably perform as a solid NFL starter, effectively using his intelligence to compensate for whatever amount of athleticism that has diminished at age 36, but at some point soon the Vikings will need a replacement plan. Particularly after Smith's partner in the starting lineup from the previous three years, Cam Bynum, departed as a free agent, this might well be the draft in which to find his successor. 'There's going to be a day when that's not going to happen, and I don't look forward to that day, but he's been such a great player here,' general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. What are the options? The Vikings gave Theo Jackson a contract extension, suggesting confidence in him stepping in for Bynum. They also have a natural safety in Josh Metellus, a favorite of defensive coordinator Brian Flores for his ability to play all over the field. But with the 24th pick in the first round, the Vikings are positioned relatively well for one of the consensus top two safeties: Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina and Malaki Starks from Georgia. Though the safety class is thin overall, ranked last among 11 position groups in one analysis by at least one of those players coming out of the pro football prospect factory in the Southeastern Conference is likely to be there on Thursday night. Cornerbacks will get strong consideration, too In the past eight years, the Vikings have used six picks over the first three rounds on a defensive back. None of them played a single snap for the Vikings last season. The 2022 draft proved to be especially costly, with neither safety Lewis Cine in the first round nor cornerback Andrew Booth in the second round panning out. This recent fruitlessness at cornerback in particular has forced a pattern of using veteran stopgaps. Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin became free agents, and even after giving Byron Murphy a big contract on the heels of his first Pro Bowl season the depth chart there is thin again this year. Mekhi Blackmon, the 2023 second-round pick, missed last season after tearing the ACL on the first practice of training camp. Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame) and Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State) are three of the first-round-caliber prospects widely projected to be available at No. 24 for the Vikings, who don't have another pick until No. 97, a compensatory selection at the end of the third round, and have only four selections overall this year. What else do they need? Even after guaranteeing more than $53 million in free agency to center Ryan Kelly and left guard Will Fries, the right guard spot remains up for grabs for a prospect who could push incumbent Blake Brandel. Though the Vikings added veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to the mix with stalwart Harrison Phillips on the interior of the defensive line, this draft is deep at that vital position. What don't they need? The wide receiver, tight end and offensive tackle positions are stacked with some of the team's biggest stars. The acquisition of Jordan Mason as a backup to Aaron Jones crossed running back off the list. The quarterback job is all J.J. McCarthy's. The addition last year of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel before drafting Dallas Turner minimizes the desire for edge rushers, but that's one of those positions teams are always wise to watch closely. 'There's always going to be a need and want for good players, at every position,' Adofo-Mensah said. 'Even if it's the need you don't see today, it's the league. It's always going to come on the short-term horizon.' Vikings are short on picks in this draft The Vikings paid heavily for Turner at No. 17 in 2024, after they'd acquired No. 23 in a pre-draft trade with Houston that cost them their 2025 second-rounder (No. 56) and a second-rounder last year. The Vikings then sent their third (No. 88) and fourth (No. 126) round picks for 2025 to Jacksonville on draft day last year to move up six spots for Turner. Their sixth (No. 200) and seventh (No. 240) round picks went to Cleveland with edge rusher Za'Darius Smith in a salary-dumping swap in 2023 that brought back a fifth-rounder (No. 139) this year and last year. The Mason trade with San Francisco involved a pick swap, with the Vikings getting a sixth-rounder (No. 187) and sending away their fifth-rounder (No. 160).
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vikings eye defensive backs in NFL draft, with potential to find successor for Harrison Smith
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, left, is interviewed by NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, right, at the NFL football annual meetings Monday, March 31, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) FILE - Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) makes a catch against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) FILE - Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) makes a catch against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, left, is interviewed by NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, right, at the NFL football annual meetings Monday, March 31, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) FILE - Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) makes a catch against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Offseason roster arrangement for the Minnesota Vikings over the past few years has included a running theme: Will Harrison Smith retire or return? The six-time Pro Bowl safety has re-upped for a 14th season, stabilizing an unsettled secondary yet again. Smith has continued to capably perform as a solid NFL starter, effectively using his intelligence to compensate for whatever amount of athleticism that has diminished at age 36, but at some point soon the Vikings will need a replacement plan. Advertisement Particularly after Smith's partner in the starting lineup from the previous three years, Cam Bynum, departed as a free agent, this might well be the draft in which to find his successor. 'There's going to be a day when that's not going to happen, and I don't look forward to that day, but he's been such a great player here," general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. What are the options? The Vikings gave Theo Jackson a contract extension, suggesting confidence in him stepping in for Bynum. They also have a natural safety in Josh Metellus, a favorite of defensive coordinator Brian Flores for his ability to play all over the field. Advertisement But with the 24th pick in the first round, the Vikings are positioned relatively well for one of the consensus top two safeties: Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina and Malaki Starks from Georgia. Though the safety class is thin overall, ranked last among 11 position groups in one analysis by at least one of those players coming out of the pro football prospect factory in the Southeastern Conference is likely to be there on Thursday night. Cornerbacks will get strong consideration, too In the past eight years, the Vikings have used six picks over the first three rounds on a defensive back. None of them played a single snap for the Vikings last season. The 2022 draft proved to be especially costly, with neither safety Lewis Cine in the first round nor cornerback Andrew Booth in the second round panning out. This recent fruitlessness at cornerback in particular has forced a pattern of using veteran stopgaps. Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin became free agents, and even after giving Byron Murphy a big contract on the heels of his first Pro Bowl season the depth chart there is thin again this year. Mekhi Blackmon, the 2023 second-round pick, missed last season after tearing the ACL on the first practice of training camp. Advertisement Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame) and Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State) are three of the first-round-caliber prospects widely projected to be available at No. 24 for the Vikings, who don't have another pick until No. 97, a compensatory selection at the end of the third round, and have only four selections overall this year. What else do they need? Even after guaranteeing more than $53 million in free agency to center Ryan Kelly and left guard Will Fries, the right guard spot remains up for grabs for a prospect who could push incumbent Blake Brandel. Though the Vikings added veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to the mix with stalwart Harrison Phillips on the interior of the defensive line, this draft is deep at that vital position. Advertisement What don't they need? The wide receiver, tight end and offensive tackle positions are stacked with some of the team's biggest stars. The acquisition of Jordan Mason as a backup to Aaron Jones crossed running back off the list. The quarterback job is all J.J. McCarthy's. The addition last year of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel before drafting Dallas Turner minimizes the desire for edge rushers, but that's one of those positions teams are always wise to watch closely. 'There's always going to be a need and want for good players, at every position,' Adofo-Mensah said. 'Even if it's the need you don't see today, it's the league. It's always going to come on the short-term horizon.' Advertisement Vikings are short on picks in this draft The Vikings paid heavily for Turner at No. 17 in 2024, after they'd acquired No. 23 in a pre-draft trade with Houston that cost them their 2025 second-rounder (No. 56) and a second-rounder last year. The Vikings then sent their third (No. 88) and fourth (No. 126) round picks for 2025 to Jacksonville on draft day last year to move up six spots for Turner. Their sixth (No. 200) and seventh (No. 240) round picks went to Cleveland with edge rusher Za'Darius Smith in a salary-dumping swap in 2023 that brought back a fifth-rounder (No. 139) this year and last year. The Mason trade with San Francisco involved a pick swap, with the Vikings getting a sixth-rounder (No. 187) and sending away their fifth-rounder (No. 160). ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Vikings eye defensive backs in NFL draft, with potential to find successor for Harrison Smith
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Offseason roster arrangement for the Minnesota Vikings over the past few years has included a running theme: Will Harrison Smith retire or return? The six-time Pro Bowl safety has re-upped for a 14th season, stabilizing an unsettled secondary yet again. Smith has continued to capably perform as a solid NFL starter, effectively using his intelligence to compensate for whatever amount of athleticism that has diminished at age 36, but at some point soon the Vikings will need a replacement plan. Particularly after Smith's partner in the starting lineup from the previous three years, Cam Bynum, departed as a free agent, this might well be the draft in which to find his successor. 'There's going to be a day when that's not going to happen, and I don't look forward to that day, but he's been such a great player here,' general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. What are the options? The Vikings gave Theo Jackson a contract extension, suggesting confidence in him stepping in for Bynum. They also have a natural safety in Josh Metellus, a favorite of defensive coordinator Brian Flores for his ability to play all over the field. But with the 24th pick in the first round, the Vikings are positioned relatively well for one of the consensus top two safeties: Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina and Malaki Starks from Georgia. Though the safety class is thin overall, ranked last among 11 position groups in one analysis by at least one of those players coming out of the pro football prospect factory in the Southeastern Conference is likely to be there on Thursday night. Cornerbacks will get strong consideration, too In the past eight years, the Vikings have used six picks over the first three rounds on a defensive back. None of them played a single snap for the Vikings last season. The 2022 draft proved to be especially costly, with neither safety Lewis Cine in the first round nor cornerback Andrew Booth in the second round panning out. This recent fruitlessness at cornerback in particular has forced a pattern of using veteran stopgaps. Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin became free agents, and even after giving Byron Murphy a big contract on the heels of his first Pro Bowl season the depth chart there is thin again this year. Mekhi Blackmon, the 2023 second-round pick, missed last season after tearing the ACL on the first practice of training camp. Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame) and Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State) are three of the first-round-caliber prospects widely projected to be available at No. 24 for the Vikings, who don't have another pick until No. 97, a compensatory selection at the end of the third round, and have only four selections overall this year. What else do they need? Even after guaranteeing more than $53 million in free agency to center Ryan Kelly and left guard Will Fries, the right guard spot remains up for grabs for a prospect who could push incumbent Blake Brandel. Though the Vikings added veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to the mix with stalwart Harrison Phillips on the interior of the defensive line, this draft is deep at that vital position. What don't they need? The wide receiver, tight end and offensive tackle positions are stacked with some of the team's biggest stars. The acquisition of Jordan Mason as a backup to Aaron Jones crossed running back off the list. The quarterback job is all J.J. McCarthy's. The addition last year of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel before drafting Dallas Turner minimizes the desire for edge rushers, but that's one of those positions teams are always wise to watch closely. 'There's always going to be a need and want for good players, at every position,' Adofo-Mensah said. 'Even if it's the need you don't see today, it's the league. It's always going to come on the short-term horizon.' Vikings are short on picks in this draft The Vikings paid heavily for Turner at No. 17 in 2024, after they'd acquired No. 23 in a pre-draft trade with Houston that cost them their 2025 second-rounder (No. 56) and a second-rounder last year. The Vikings then sent their third (No. 88) and fourth (No. 126) round picks for 2025 to Jacksonville on draft day last year to move up six spots for Turner. Their sixth (No. 200) and seventh (No. 240) round picks went to Cleveland with edge rusher Za'Darius Smith in a salary-dumping swap in 2023 that brought back a fifth-rounder (No. 139) this year and last year. The Mason trade with San Francisco involved a pick swap, with the Vikings getting a sixth-rounder (No. 187) and sending away their fifth-rounder (No. 160). ___ AP NFL:
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings named as 'best fit' for SEC safety on day two of the NFL Draft
Vikings named as 'best fit' for SEC safety on day two of the NFL Draft The Minnesota Vikings retained much of their secondary in free agency. They brought back Harrison Smith and Byron Murphy, Jr., while also extending fourth-year safety Theo Jackson, likely counting on him to have an expanded role in 2025. The Vikings also added cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, expecting him to continue to grow into an every-down player. But they could still look to add to players with versatility and youth. Smith, 36, could be playing his final season in 2025. Even if the Vikings want him to play as much as possible, having another player to give him occasional rest could only help. Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus believes the Vikings could look to add Texas safety Andrew Mukuba in the third round to do just that. As it stands, Minnesota's only pick on Day 2 falls in the compensatory range of the third round, limiting the team's options. However, the Vikings can nab a safety with excellent coverage instincts like Mukuba to replenish a secondary hit hard in free agency. At Texas in his final season, the senior snagged six interceptions, contributing to his 89.7 PFF coverage grade — second highest in this year's safety class. Mukuba has experience playing in the slot, deep safety, and box. In 2024, 508 of his 712 total defensive snaps came at deep safety. But he primarily played slot in 2023 after splitting reps almost 50/50 in 2022 at deep safety and slot. His versatility and production could make him a prime candidate for Brian Flores' defense if he's still available when the Vikings are on the clock at pick 97.
