One of the presumptive prime free agency targets for the Cleveland Browns was Vikings safety Anthony Harris. The status changed tense from “is” to “was” on Monday, when Minnesota elected to use the franchise tag on the 28-year-old playmaker.
While signing Harris on the open market is no longer an option, the Browns can still land him via a trade. The Vikings are open to a sign-and-trade deal for the NFL’s reigning interception champ, and Cleveland still makes the most sense of any possible suitor.
Harris is a perfect fit for what the Browns need in the back of the defense, a heady safety who can make plays on the ball and not ruin the defense with poor tackling. Over the last two seasons, Harris has nine INTs and over 100 tackles for Minnesota.
The Vikings ties with new Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski are tough to ignore. Stefanski had to go against Harris every day in practice. He’s young enough to merit a long-term deal, and the Browns do have some draft capital to dangle and the cap room to take on any big new Harris contract.
Landing Harris in a sign-and-trade would immediately resolve the Browns’ biggest defensive need, and does so with a proven professional who understands and knows the new coach well. It’s something GM Andrew Berry should heavily pursue.
