In a league where quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends get a vast majority of the attention from the media and fans, it can be hard for excellent defensive players to stand out, even in an impressive unit like the Minnesota Vikings have.
There were plenty of defenders who stood out for the Vikings during the 2017 NFL season, but none made as huge of a positive impression on sports media and fans as safety Harrison Smith did.
Recently Pro Football Focus released their list of the top 101 players from the 2017 NFL season and Harrison Smith is included on that list in the #3 position, behind only Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.