Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus.
Those are your 2021 Vikings safeties. For now?
One of those names is pretty familiar. And we love him. Metellus, conversely, was a rookie from Michigan, played a bunch of special teams, but only got on the field for 16 defensive snaps last season.
Technically, if you go to Vikings.com and check the roster, you'll see the names Myles Dorn and Luther Kirk there....if you have big opinions on either of those guys, then cheers to you.
What the hell are we gonna do at safety?
I have the answer! I've never seen it so clearly in my life.
The clouds have opened up, allowing rays of sunshine to put a spotlight on the perfect, financially reasonable(hopefully) stop-gap option for the purple before they use a third round pick on a kid in April.
His name is Duron Harmon. His nickname is "the closer."
He plays center field like Byron Buxton, only he's active for every game!
In all seriousness, we need a deep safety with experience and a pulse. That's Duron. He's been largely healthy his entire career, and named a captain in both New England and Detroit. 17 picks in his career, and finally got to start every game in 2020 after splitting time for Belichick the last handful of years.
Looking at his play, I feel like he was dealt a bad hand with the Kitties last year, similarly to Anthony Harris here.
More than halfway thru the season, he was one of PFF's highest rated safeties....then things got weird. Playing with a defensive backfield that included Desmond Trufant(only played 6 games), Amani Oruwariye(2019 5th rounder), Justin Coleman(missed 5 games), highly touted rookie Jeff Okudah(hurt a bunch, underwhelming on the field)....oh, and a pass rush that generated just 24 sacks all season(the Vikings had 23, by the way).
Putrid. He was the Lions' third leading tackler, had a couple picks and now he's back on the market.
So, we're learning that it's difficult on a safety with inexperienced, poorly performing corners, while operating with no pass rush...and giving up nearly 4.5/carry on the ground.
Since we can't have Anthony back, gimme Duron Harmon on a 1-year deal. Better pass rush, better LB corps with healthy Kendricks/Barr, better corners and the Hitman.
Then get Jevon Holland on Day 2 of the draft and let's go.
That offensive line, though...