In March, the Vikings released franchise stalwart Harrison Smith with a post-June 1 designation, as his contract was because of void and a choice needed to be made. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported the discharge and noted it was not a sign that Smith plans to retire (although the 37-year-old safety did contemplate hanging up his cleats in 2025 before re-upping with Minnesota).
Now that the March free agent frenzy and the April draft are within the books, Seifert echoes his prior report and says the Vikings have let Smith know they’d be pleased to have him back. Per Seifert, “all signs were pointing” to retirement following the 2025 campaign, but as Smith himself has made no public remarks in that regard, it seems as if one other season may very well be in store.
While the Vikings return Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Jay Ward and added Jakobe Thomas within the third round of last month’s draft, they’ve made no other notable additions at the protection position. Minnesota still believes it is going to have a greater defense with Smith, whose 85% snap share trailed only Metellus’ 97% mark among the many club’s safety contingent last season.
It has been a number of years since Pro Football Focus considered Smith a top-tier defender, but his 68.9 overall grade in 2025 continues to be strong and is squarely according to the location’s evaluation of his work from the prior three seasons. That mark placed him thirty third amongst 91 qualified safeties last yr.
Pro Football Reference did charge him with a 115.1 quarterback rating allowed in 2025, which was far and away a career-worst figure. Nevertheless, he did record two interceptions amongst 10 passes defensed and added 54 stops, including one sack and three tackles for loss.
Smith joined the Vikings in the primary round of the 2012 draft and has never played for a distinct team, collecting six Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro selection during his 14-year profession. His 207 games played is currently fifth in franchise history, and he could move into third place, leaping Carl Eller (209) and Fred Cox (210), if he inks one other deal.
The Vikings saved $1.3MM with the March release and are spreading out $3MM in dead money over the subsequent two years. That number is separate from the associated fee of any latest contract for Smith.