After Anthony Harris’ strong 2019 campaign in a contract year, the implication became that he would require a lot of money to keep around.
The Vikings were not a team with a lot of money. Competing for the playoffs year after year has led to Minnesota retaining pricey veterans and running close to the salary cap limit.
Despite the financial obstacles in its way, the team gave Harris the franchise tag. He later signed his tender. Then, the deadline passed for the Vikings and Harris to work out a long-term deal for this season.
Bleacher Report was surprised the Vikings did that. The outlet listed Harris getting the franchise tag as Minnesota’s biggest surprising move of the offseason.
Here’s what Bleacher Report said about Harris:
“The franchise tag’s $11.4 million hit became more palatable when the front office looked at its options, what it would likely lose in the secondary and the drop-off in play the unit would experience. The 28-year-old defensive back is the game’s highest-graded safety in coverage since the start of the 2018 campaign, according to Pro Football Focus.
Now, the Vikings will have their terrific safety tandem together for one more season, though the organization’s decision to franchise Harris will probably cost it next offseason when he’s set to become a free agent.”
The only move that could be considered more surprising is trading Stefon Diggs as quickly as the Vikings did. However, Diggs’ cryptic tweets made it less of a shock, I would say.