We all know safety Harrison Smith is one of the best at his position.
While he’s known for more for his tackling ability, the Viking is also one of the best players in coverage as well.
Nick Shook, along with NFL’s NextGen stats, ranked Smith as the sixth-best player in coverage during the 2019 season.
Smith allowed a catch percentage of just 50.3%, 8.2% below what was expected.
Here’s a snippet of what Shook wrote about Smith:
Now, it’s a little easier to post these numbers as a safety than a cornerback, of course, but that shouldn’t diminish how Smith’s production is viewed. Anthony Harris might also want to thank Smith for his contributions to the safety’s standout 2019 campaign (he made my list of Pro Bowls snubs), which couldn’t have happened without Smith’s enduring presence as the more feared safety on Minnesota’s defense.
If Minnesota’s new-look defense has success in 2020, Smith will be a huge part of that.
You can read the full rankings here.