Safety Jayron Kearse said on Twitter recently that he “doesn’t want to come back” to the Vikings, so it was only a matter of time before he found a new team.
Unfortunately for Vikings fans, that new team is a division rival.
According to a source of NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, the Lions are to sign Kearse to a one-year, $2.75 million deal.
This move makes sense for Kearse, who is more likely to win a starting safety role with the Lions. The Vikings currently have safeties Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith on the roster, both of whom received a lot more playing time then Kearse did last season.
Despite the Vikings franchise tagging him, Harris could possibly be on the move this offseason. A source also told Rapoport that the Vikings are telling teams Harris “could be had for a mid-to-late round draft pick.”
Kearse probably wasn’t going to be a starter, so this doesn’t come as a huge blow to the team. It would have been nice if he kept away from a team the Vikings play twice a season, though.