MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 16: Eric Kendricks #54 of the Minnesota Vikings and Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings dive for a loose ball against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings have already released a number of key veterans. Insiders expect that to continue with Harrison Smith next up.
LB Eric Kendricks, WR Adam Thielen and CB Cam Dantzler. What do they all have in common?
All three are former Minnesota Vikings who were released by the team despite a ton of service team. A generation of fans grew up with these players, but Kwesi Adofo-Mensah cut them loose due to cap concerns. It won’t end with those three, however — Harrison Smith could be next.
Minnesota has a cap crunch coming, which explains the roster moves. But when will it end? Dalvin Cook has also been shopped on the open market. Next year’s squad may look nothing like the team which won the NFC North last season.
Minnesota Vikings could release more veteran talent
FanSided’s Alicia de Artola outlined the Harrison Smith situation on Friday as it was developing.
“That doesn’t mean Smith is definitely going to be cut, Wolfson said. The team could still try to restructure his current deal to be more team friendly. However, if the two sides can’t agree on that, the cut is certianly possible.
Smith has been a stalwart for the Vikings since he was drafted No. 29 overall in 2012 out of Notre Dame. He’s started 158 games over the last 11 seasons in Minnesota, making it to six Pro Bowls. He was an AP first team All-Pro in 2017.”
Smith had five interceptions in 2022 and was a staple in the secondary. He was drafted in the first round out of Notre Dame in 2022, and has been a Viking ever since. That time could come to an end soon despite establishing himself as a fan favorite.
It’s unclear who would replace a player like Smith in Minnesota. A contract restructure remains a possibility, if the Vikings and Smith would rather not move on.
