NFL free agency 2020: Best safeties available
3. SS Anthony Harris (Minnesota Vikings)
Yes, Mike Zimmer’s club finished 10-6 in 2019 and earned a playoff berth for the third time in five years. But it was quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive unit that was the driving force for the Purple Gang this past season.
That doesn’t mean that there weren’t some outstanding individual performances on the defensive side of the ball. End Danielle Hunter (14.5 sacks in ’19) continues to be one of the premier edge rushers in the league. There’s talent everywhere in linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr and heady safety Harrison Smith.
Speaking of the second, it was a breakout year for Anthony Harris in his fifth NFL campaign. The former Univeristy of Virginia produced finished with 60 stops, was tied for second on the team with 11 passes defensed and came up with seven (6 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery) of the Vikings’ 31 takeaways. He also picked off Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees in the overtime playoff win at New Orleans. And those aforementioned six INTs in the regular season were tied for the league lead with 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore (Patriots) and cornerback Tre’Davious White (Bills).
Over the past two seasons, Harris has played in 29 regular-season contests and intercepted nine passes. And whether he stays in the Twin Cities or heads elsewhere, he’s a player that appears to really be coming into his own.
Next: No. 2