Vikings S Anthony Harris Available For Trade Despite Franchise Tag

According to Ian Rapoport, the Vikings have acknowledged to teams that S Anthony Harris would be available for trade despite receiving the franchise tag yesterday. 

Rapoport says Minnesota seems to be asking for a mid-to-late round draft pick in exchange for Harris. The Vikings surprisingly placed the tag on him yesterday after most indications seemed to be they would let him walk. 

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer seemed to suggest this offseason that making a major investment in both safeties wasn’t a good allocation of salary for his defense. 

Per Over The Cap, the franchise tag for safeties will cost $12.62 million guaranteed for the 2020 season. 

Harris, 27, wound up signing on with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia back in 2015. He spent most of his rookie season on the Vikings’ practice squad before eventually being called up in December.

Harris re-signed with the Vikings as a restricted free agent in 2019. He was slated to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career this offseason.

In 2019, Harris played in 14 games and recorded 60 total tackles, one fumble recovery, six interceptions including one returned for a touchdown and 11 passes defensed.  He was rated as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 1-ranked safety out of 86 qualifying players. 

We’ll have more on Harris as the news is available.