Cap Clearing Move: Harrison Smith Has Deal Adjusted

K. Joudry |

Mar 17, 2022

Jan 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson (7) returns an interception for a 66 yard touchdown as safety Harrison Smith (22) follows off a pass by Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

It was really just a matter of when this was going to occur. According to Field Yates, Harrison Smith has adjusted his contract to create $6 million in 2022 room.

Other teams creating cap space with contract restructures:

Vikings: $6M via Harrison Smith’s deal

Bills: $5.172M via Matt Milano’s deal

Titans: $6.456M via Zach Cunningham’s deal
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 17, 2022

Converting finances to a signing bonus allows a team to spread out the hit over the duration of the deal. Smith is just entering the fist year of his four-year extension, so there are plenty of years to spread money.

To some, it may seem odd to choose Harrison Smith given that he’s older and the extension was negotiated by Rick Spielman. It shouldn’t be, though. In the opening round of press conferences, Kevin O’Connell identified him as being the perfect safety for the kind of defense they want to run. He’ll likely be in town for at least two more years. As it stands, the team could cut him in 2024, freeing up almost $11.4 million in the process.

Recently, I have been working my way through Denver’s defense from last season. They asked their safeties to do a lot. Fans are really going to love seeing Smith used perhaps even more heavily than in Zim’s defense. The main difference will likely be more man-to-man assignments, but it’ll also involve Smith starting in a 2-high look more. From that starting point, expect to see him flying toward the line of scrimmage with regularity.

This is a good move for Minnesota. According to Over the Cap, the Vikings are now close to $2.5 million under the cap. Smith will have a $7.4 million cap hit in 2022.

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