Vikings Need to Keep Anthony Harris Instead of Ill-Advised Trade

Entering the 2020 league year, the Minnesota Vikings had limited cap space to improve their team after they made it all the way to the NFC Divisional Round last season. Stud safety Anthony Harris was expected to depart in free agency, but Minnesota pulled a sneaky one on the rest of the NFL and placed the franchise tag on him. Despite this move, reports indicated that they would move Harris, but only at the right price.

That's a bad idea for the Vikings, and they need to keep him at all costs.

The #Vikings surprisingly applied the franchise tag to safety Anthony Harris but acknowledged to teams that Harris could be had for a mid-to-late round draft pick, source said. A potential tag and trade candidate.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2020

The Vikings were able to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins to a contract extension, which in turn drastically lowered his cap hit for 2020 and beyond. Additionally, the Vikings traded wide receiver Stefon Diggs ($11.5 million cap hit) to the Buffalo Bills.

Now, Minnesota carries $13 million in cap space for 2020 and $42.4 million for 2021. That's more than enough for the Vikings to give Harris a contract extension.

Why on Earth would the Vikings want to break up one of the best safety tandems in the NFL in Harris and Harrison Smith? Those two alone gave up a grand total of zero touchdowns last season. Additionally, Harris recorded 60 tackles, 11 passes defensed, and a whopping six interceptions (most in the league).

Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris were rated as one of the top Safety tandems in the NFL last year. The pair did not allow a single TD last season. pic.twitter.com/apDndfZSjQ
— SportsTalk Minnesota (@MinnySportsTalk) March 27, 2020

Why would the Vikings surrender a talent like Harris in exchange for a package of mid-round picks? It just doesn't make sense. You've got him tagged, now lock him into a long-term deal and reap the benefits.