Anthony Harris Would 'Definitely Like to Stay' with Vikings Amid FA Interest

Minnesota Vikings safety Anthony Harris said Friday he'd "definitely like to stay" with the organization as he prepares to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday.

Harris explained his outlook heading into free agency during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Grant Gordon of NFL.com):

"Yeah, if all things were equal—looking at the organization from a standpoint top to bottom, from the owners down to the coaches down to the locker room and the culture they have. It's somewhere I'd definitely like to stay. I love Minneapolis, love the organization, it's a good city. The people there are really nice. It's very competitive, so I mean it has it has everything I want and I'd definitely like to stay if possible."

Harris has developed into one of the league's top safeties since he signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

The 28-year-old University of Virginia product is coming off a season in which he tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown. He also recorded 60 total tackles, 11 passes defended and a fumble recovery.

He added nine tackles in two playoff games and had an interception in Minnesota's wild-card victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Harris, who's registered all 10 of his career picks (counting postseason) since the start of 2018, posted a terrific 90.5 Pro Football Focus grade in 2019.

"Once Anthony got that opportunity to start, and even when he started last year at times, he's proven he's phenomenal and one of the best safeties in the league right now," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman told reporters in February.

Minnesota has limited financial flexibility heading into the new league year, though. It has $20.1 million in projected cap space, the seventh-lowest total in the NFL, per Spotrac.

The Vikings still have the option to use the franchise tag on Harris, but that would eat up an estimated $12.7 million of that space, according to Over The Cap.

If he's not retained, the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys are among the teams that will be looking for safety upgrades this offseason.