According to a report by ESPN’s Josina Anderson on Friday, the Minnesota Vikings and safety Anthony Harris will head back to the negotiating table as they work on a new long-term contract.
Anderson noted that while both sides have made progress on a deal “within the realm of what’s necessary to finalize” there are still factors that could prevent a deal from getting done.
Harris was slated to hit free agency this offseason, but the Vikings made the decision to issue the franchise tag for the first time since 2011.
The decision allowed the Vikings to exclusively negotiate with Harris on a long-term deal, but a report by KSTP-TV’s Darren Wolfson hinted negotiations weren’t going well and that a trade was “back on the table,” and could lead to a deal over next weekend’s NFL Draft.
If Harris and the Vikings can’t come to an agreement, it will be one of the biggest stories of draft weekend.
The Vikings have just $12.3 million in salary cap space, but still have their eyes set on extending Dalvin Cook, who could command up to $16 million per season in the wake of Christian McCaffrey’s extension with Carolina.
As the third-graded safety by Pro Football Focus, the Vikings will have no trouble finding a suitor if they decide to trade Harris.
The Cleveland Browns have been a frequent name mentioned as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported the Vikings were looking for a second or third-round pick to complete the deal. The Vikings were also linked to Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this week, but the two stories have yet to be connected.
