The Minnesota Vikings are officially declining Andrew Sendejo‘s 2019 option, according to Ian Rapoport. Sendejo, who has been a member of the Minnesota Vikings since the 2011 season, is joining the plethora of safeties that are now on the market as free agency hits. Sendejo, who spent the last eight seasons with Minnesota, will get another chance on a new defense this fall.
Vikings Decline Andrew Sendejo’s Option, Place Tender on Anthony Harris
Andrew Sendejo is heading into his 10th season in the NFL. During his time with the Vikings, he played just two full seasons, both coming all the way back in 2013 and 2014. With his hard-nosed play style, he has failed to hold up for a full season in quite some time. He has started just 18 games in the last two seasons, far below what was expected. Unfortunately, injuries do happen when you play with the attitude and grit that Sendejo does. He registered just five games during the 2018 season and was shut out of the interception department, which was his first year of being shut out in that category since the 2014 season where he started just three games. Sendejo racked up 77 tackles prior to his injury-riddled 2018 season, which ranks as second-most in his career. Vikings fans know all too well that Sendejo can hit and were hoping for another 70+ tackle season from him.
Where he struggled the most was in coverage. Sendejo often put the Vikings in jeopardy by blowing his coverage or not being able to make a play on the ball when it was in the air. He even struggled with taking the proper angles. Often times he would drop into the box in run support and go for the big hit and miss, or take a false step and have to run down the opposing running back.
The Vikings saved $5.5 million by declining to pick up Andrew Sendejo’s option. Considering Sendejo is heading into his next season where he will turn 32 years old, it was in the team’s best interest to move on. Especially considering the presence of breakout player Anthony Harris, who is four years younger than Sendejo. Harris, who received a second-round tender, really broke out in the absence of Sendejo this last season. He started in nine games for Minnesota, which is by far the most games he’s started in his career. During the 2015-2017 season, Harris saw a combined eight starts. He excelled in coverage, registering six pass deflections and piling up three interceptions, which were the firsts of his career.
The superb play of Harris in the back end of the Vikings defense gives Harrison Smith even more freedom to roam at free safety. Mike Zimmer loves to drop Smith in the box and help support in the run game and send him on blitzes, but that used to leave them vulnerable to the deep ball. With Harris the potential full-time safety opposite of Smith, there should be more chances to bring Smith on disguised blitzes and leave Harris playing center field in coverage.
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