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2021 Sign, Draft or Promote - Starting Safety


swede700

How should the Vikings handle the starting safety spot opposite Harry?  

22 members have voted

  1. 1. How should the Vikings handle the starting safety spot opposite Harry?

    • Re-sign Anthony Harris
      1
    • Sign an external free agent (Specify preference in thread)
      2
    • Draft a new starting S
      16
    • Promote Josh Metellus
      2
    • Other (specify preference in thread)
      1


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Moving on to the starting safety position (opposite Harrison Smith)...

2020 depth at the position:  Anthony Harris, Josh Metellus, George Iloka, Myles Dorn

2021 Outgoing Free Agents: Anthony Harris, George Iloka

Potential Free Agents Available: Duron Harmon, Malik Hooker, Marcus Williams, Keanu Neal, John Johnson, Xavier Woods 

Potential Draftees:  Jevon Holland, Trevon Moehrig, Hamsah Nasirildeen, James Wiggins

Now we know that there isn't a lot of money to spend in the free agent market, but what should the Vikings do to improve this position?  Sign a free agent, Draft a replacement, or Promote from Within?

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Chances of one of these guys being around 3rd or 4th round is pretty high.  Four picks to get it done, would love more of a coverage deep safety like Richie Grant but he could be gone, Jamar Johnson would fit that bill, so would Brady Breeze, JR Pace and I like the versatility of Kary Vincent and Ar'Darius Washington.

 

Talanoa Hufanga USC JR|
Jamien Sherwood Auburn JR
Paris Ford Pitt RS JR
Richie Grant UCF
Jamar Johnson Indiana JR
Brady Breeze Oregon RS
JR Pace Northwestern
Kary Vincent Jr LSU JR
Ar'Darius Washington TCU RS SOPH

 

I have these guys as potential UDFA and all could be more a deep safety, especially Shaun Crawford who also has some CB ability.  

Brad Stewart Jr Florida
Shaun Crawford Notre Dame RS
Lamont Wade Penn State
Shawn Davis Florida
Jaylon McClain-Sapp Marshall

 

Is risky starting a rookie but priority would be OG or DE or DT then safety.  Then again getting a decent safety in free agency could be easier to do than getting a good OL or DL.

 

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Josh Metellus get paid more than DJ Reed on the Seattle Seahawks, a guy who played CB, slot corner and safety at times I believe for them this past season.  Reed had 62 total tackles, 46 solo, 2 INTs and 6 passes deflected last year.  Metellus had 8 pretty meaningless tackles.  Pretty crazy to get that kind of production from that cheap of player, and Metellus honestly I doubt has any long term future with this team other than a backup.  

He did not shown near the potential or upside other rookies did for the Vikings at DB with Gladney, Dantzler and Hand.  All of them at times made plays and were productive players who showed flashes, Metellus showed little to nothing.

 

Xavier Woods I would not mind as a free agent FS type, same with John Johnson but no way we can afford him.  Woods maybe we could.  Sucks though Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith, I bet they are the highest paid safety combo in the league.  And they have not go much bang for their buck, at least Harrison played well last year, Anthony Harris arguably did not and neither could be very aggressive because of the CB issues at times for them.  

 

I would love Jessie Bates III, thought he was a 1st round pick coming out of Wake Forest but should get a big pay day in 2022.  But most likely Harrison Smith hopefully ends his career as a Viking but will have to be playing along side a safety who is a rookie.  

 

 

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3 hours ago, RpMc said:

I feel like I have the same answer for all of these. Bring in a cheapish vet, and then this would be my third highest draft priority after IDL/IOL

Richie Grant being my top choice. 

Right on!  I am with you all the way on that. It is impossible who will be available in the draft. Even if it was, it is impossible to know how anyone in the draft will work out in the NFL. The team needs to bring in veterans for all of the starting positions.

Given that the team doesn't have cap space to sign blue chip free agents they need to be looking at low-rent players that wouldn't be embarrassing to start while they try to find answers for the future from the draft. If the team can scrounge together cap dollars for one free agent of moderate cost, safety is not the position that I would invest those dollars.

I wholeheartedly agree to bring in a cheap vet and also watch the position closely in the draft.

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With bringing in Paul Guenther from Oakland, I wonder if he would maybe vouch for Karl Joseph? He should be decently priced and can start for awhile until we develop a mid to later RD draft pick. Otherwise bringing over Tashaun Gipson from Chicago (hopefully on a 1 year deal) could be a good veteran option, plus he can give us a little more insight on the Bears' D.  Either way I'd like someone with experience for at least this year, since I think we're a bottom tier playoff team currently and need someone with a bit more seasoning.

I think this is a pretty good draft volume wise. I would love it if Holland was around in RD 3, but i doubt it. I think Grant would be another good one. Give them a year to learn and give them some playing time here and there to spell Smith/veteran FA and hopefully be ready to take over in a year.

 

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