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Harrison Smith Becomes the NFL’s Highest Paid Safety

By Paul Bellesen

January 28, 2016; Kahuku, HI, USA; Team Irvin free safety Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings (22) during the 2016 Pro Bowl practice at Turtle Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 28, 2016; Kahuku, HI, USA; Team Irvin free safety Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings (22) during the 2016 Pro Bowl practice at Turtle Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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After multiple years of amazing play, Harrison Smith signs a new contract to become the NFL’s highest-paid safety.

All offseason it seemed like something that would have been on the top of the Minnesota Vikings to-do list, resigning their Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith.

Slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2016 season, Harrison Smith has now signed a new five-year contract to make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL, and it is well deserved.

According to a league source, it is a five-year extension worth $51.25 million with $28.578 million guaranteed. If you do the math, he will make $10.25m/year. That is a nice raise for the anchor of the back-end of the Viking Defense.

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Last year, Smith was the highest rated safety according to Pro Football Focus’ grading system. He was also featured in the NFL network’s Top 100, but not nearly high enough. Signing Smith to a contract this size is worth every penny, as he is just entering his prime.

The former first-round pick out of Notre Dame is in his fifth year with the Vikings. His new contract was expected, as Rick Spielman has done a great job at signing key players before they hit the free agent market. Another reason we knew this news was coming was that Smith hired a new agent last week.

Smith had this to say about his new deal.

"It’s very hard to put into words right now. Coming into the league, getting an opportunity after getting drafted by Rick and being able to stay around here and just be a part of what we’re building here, what Coach Zimmer is building… It’s huge in every type of way I can think of, being able to stay in this building and chase a championship."

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Vikings fans can now rest assured, the heavy lifting of the offseason is over and this was the last thing that needed to be completed. Smith is a hard hitting, hard working safety who is going to be a Viking for a while. It is a pleasure to watch him play.

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