Longtime NFL veteran safety Anthony Harris has signed a onr1year, $5 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Harris has spent the six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
Vikings’ free-agent safety Anthony Harris is signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Eagles, @DrewJRosenhaus tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2021
Anthony Harris, Philadelphia Eagles, Agree to Contract
During the 2020 offseason, Anthony Harris signed the franchise tag with the Minnesota Vikings. Harris started all 16 games this past season for the Vikings, providing an experienced head in an otherwise young Minnesota secondary. Unable to recreate his form of the previous year, Harris ended the 2020 season without an interception. Although, Minnesota’s free safety finished the season with seven passes defended and a 66.2 PFF grade.
Harris’ standout season in the twin cities came in 2019. Becoming a full-time starter for the first time in Mike Zimmer’s defense. Harris finished the league season tied in second for interceptions with six alongside 11 passes defended and a fumble recovery in 14 regular-season games. Including, a standout performance in week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Two interceptions and two passes defended were the catalysts for a 28-12 victory over the Falcons. Yet, Harris was a pro bowl snub at the conclusion of the regular season.
Entering the postseason, Harris continued to impress, when he picked off Drew Brees for a thirty-yard gain in the Mercedes Benz Superdome on wildcard weekend. However, Harris couldn’t prevent Minnesota’s season from concluding with an underwhelming 27-10 defeat to eventual Super Bowl runners up the 49ers.
Harris’ potential to be a starter however was on full display during the previous season in 2018. Beginning the season with zero defensive snaps through four weeks before getting his opportunity in week five against the Arizona Cardinals. In his first defensive action of 2018, Harris played a quarter of the snaps in a home victory over Arizona and registered an interception. Harris slowly developed into a full-time starter at strong safety by week seven. Starting the final stretch of the 2018 season with three interceptions.
Through the first three years, Harris had limited starts but slowly moved up the depth chart featuring in both 2017 playoff games predominantly on special teams. Therefore, Harris took the hard road to becoming a starting NFL safety. The University of Virginia rookie went undrafted before being picked up by the Vikings as a UDFA in 2015. Even though he was a UDFA, Harris finishes his career with the Vikings playing 81 games and making 47 starts.
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