According to NFL Network/ESPN’s Mike Garafolo, the Minnesota Vikings have signed safety Harrison Smith to a one-year, $12.25 million contract going into this week’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Smith had previously played for the Vikings, earning All-Pro honors in 2017 and 2018, before being released by Minnesota at the start of the new league year in 2026.
Smith has incentives in his deal to reach $16.25 million, and he’s expected to be on the field for Brian Flores’ defense against the Packers
next Sunday. Smith has played for Flores since Flores got the defensive coordinator job in 2023, so it’s not like he has a lot to learn about the system.
To backfill for the Vikings’ loss at the position, they drafted Jakobe Thomas in the third round of the 2026 draft in April and also signed undrafted free agent rookie Jacob Thomas, who had also taken a pre-draft visit with the Packers, after the draft. Both Thomases made Minnesota’s initial 53-man roster.
The Packers have another hurdle to jump if they want to win in Week 1. The return of Smith should be a pretty significant storyline going into the game between divisional rivals.
