Harrison Smith’s name lurked on the Vikings’ 2012 draft board. He was the only safety prospect left whom they felt could start immediately. General Manager Rick Spielman mulled two options — hope that Smith still would be available the next day or orchestrate a trade back into the first round.
Spielman worked the phones as the picks rolled by. A late-night deal eventually was struck with the Ravens for the 29th overall pick. Smith, now a two-time Pro Bowler at 28 years old, was a Viking.
“I would do that in a heartbeat again to get a player like Harrison Smith,” Spielman recalled.