Note: This is the first of four offseason snapshots looking at the peaks and valleys of key 2017 contributors for the Vikings.
When Mike Zimmer said the Eagles attacked some of the Vikings’ strengths in a blowout loss in the NFC title game, he might as well have been talking about safety Harrison Smith. Smith put together the kind of season that forced him into the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. He led all NFL safeties in the ballot box while being selected by 45 of 50 All-Pro voters. The value he brought had cornerback Xavier Rhodes interrupting interviews to campaign for his teammate’s DPOY candidacy.