Could Jacksonville Jaguars sign Vikings safety Anthony Harris?
The Jacksonville Jaguars will probably be active in this year’s free agency period, and due to their abundance of cap space, they will be able to target pretty much any player they want. After failing to stop opposing teams from throwing the ball in 2020, it’s clear they need to bolster their secondary and should consider the possibility of signing safety Anthony Harris if he hits the open market.
After using the franchise tag on Harris last offseason, it’s uncertain what the Minnesota Vikings will do with him. They could use the tag once again, offer him a new contract or let him test the open market. If the Virginia product becomes a free agent, there will be a demand for his services, as he’s one of the best safeties in the NFL.
After going undrafted in 2015, Harris signed with the Vikes and steadily worked his way up on the depth chart. Although he played just 14 percent of Minnesota’s total snaps on defense in his rookie year, his playing time progressively went up and has been a staple of the Vikings secondary in the last three years. In that span, Harris has appeared in 45 games, starting 39 and logging 127 total tackles, one forced fumble, 24 passes defensed, and nine interceptions. Furthermore, he ranked seventh in Pro Football Focus’ 2021 top 200 free agent list.
Why should the Jacksonville Jaguars pursue Anthony Harris in free agency?
The 2021 free-agent safety class will be a deep one and will have a few interesting choices to choose from. Marcus Williams and John Johnson III should be at the top of the list alongside Harris. The Jaguars will have the resources to pursue any of them and it may come to whichever fits what defensive coordinator Joe Cullen plans to do on defense.
Adam Patrick of the Viking Age sees Jacksonville as a potential landing spot for Harris. He thinks Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer ‘will be looking to make an impact in his first season with the team’ and believes that the safety could provide some veteran leadership for the Jaguars’ secondary.
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Daniel Thomas showed promise in his rookie season, but Harris would provide a significant upgrade at safety. Jacksonville should be a prime destination for free agents this offseason and should have no problem signing any player they want. If they want to make a heavy investment in the safety position, Harris should be on their radar if he hits the open market.