March 29, 2024

Vikings sign safety Smith to extension

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — All offseason long, Harrison Smith said he had faith that the Minnesota Vikings would follow their established history of taking care of the players they draft with long-term contracts.

After a few months of discussions, Smith’s faith was validated with a contract extension.

The rising star at safety signed his five-year extension on Monday, ensuring that the issue will not hang over the franchise or the player heading into training camp in August. Smith got a $10 million signing bonus, and his new deal that includes $28.578 million guaranteed has a maximum value of $51.25 million to make him for now the highest-paid safety in the league.

Over his first four seasons in the NFL, Smith has established himself as one of the best young safeties in the game. He has proven a durable, hard-hitting playmaker with 12 interceptions who is the leader of coach Mike Zimmer’s secondary.