Minnesota Vikings are waiting on a crucial decision from Harrison Smith, and time is running out

We don’t know if Harrison Smith is going to be returning to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2026 season.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell greets Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

One of the biggest things the Minnesota Vikings are waiting on is safety Harrison Smith’s decision on whether or not he will play in the 2026 season.

The 29th selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, Smith has been a dominant player for the Vikings at the safety position. He’s been one of the only players in NFL history to have 39 sacks and over 20 sacks. He’s made the Pro Bowl six times and was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and a second-teamer in 2018. Over the last few seasons, Smith’s future has been up in the air, and this year is no different.

Deadline is looming for Harrison Smith’s decision on his future

With free agency having kicked off with the legal tampering period, the sand is almost out of the hourglass before the deadline for a decision. With Smith’s contract voiding on Friday, March 13th, that is coming up quickly.

It’s a very important date for the Vikings, but not a cut-off where they can’t bring him back period, but it’s important when it comes to cap space. If Smith retires, he will have $10.6 million in dead salary cap, but only $3 million will hit. Per Over The Cap, it’s designed with a dummy year in 2026 that is meant to be designated as a post-June 1st cut.

It was designed to ease the burden of his dead salary cap after his likely retirement. Now, that doesn’t mean that Smith has to retire. The Vikings can sign him to another extension to keep the dead cap hits in the future and not accelerate. It would cost the Vikings his base salary plus any extra bonus money added, and the $3 million that will hit the books no matter what.

If he ends up staying with the Vikings, that would be huge for Brian Flores’ defense, as they will likely be breaking in a bunch of rookies, including at Smith’s position of safety. That decision will be coming soon, and it will do a lot for the Vikings’ free agency and NFL Draft pursuits.

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