Ben Goessling of ESPN.com reports that the Vikings have no plans to discuss a long-term extension with S Harrison Smith until after the season has concluded.
Goessling add that Minnesota isn’t in a rush to get a deal done with Smith any time soon given that they have already picked up his fifth-year option for the 2016 season.
Smith previously mentioned that an extension is the “furthest thing from my mind” right now.
“That’s the furthest thing from my mind,” Smith said, via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I’m really just focused on playing the best type of football I can. That stuff will work itself out. I’m happy to be here and happy to be a part of the Vikings, but all I’m thinking about right now is playing well in 2015.”
Smith, 26, is in the final year of his four-year, $7,138,546 rookie contract that included $5,775,109 guaranteed. He’ll make a base salary of $1,363,437 for the 2015 season.
The Vikings are looking at paying Smith $5.278 million for the 2016 season under the fifth-year option. However, this figure is guaranteed for injury only and won’t prevent them from working out a long-term deal that will come with a lower cap figure.
In 2014, Smith appeared in all 16 games for the Vikings and recorded 92 tackles, three sacks, five interceptions including one returned for a touchdown, a forced fumble and nine pass defenses.
Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 2 safety out of 87 qualifying players.
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