Vikings can acquire Harrison Smith's successor for free and why it involves Daniel Jones

It's an interesting move by the Patriots for a number of reasons. The former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2017 was signed by the Patriots to a three-year extension worth up to $25 million after three good seasons in New England. He played so well that Peppers was one of Pro Football Focus's best players at the safety position.

This would be an interesting one for the Vikings, as adding a 30-year-old to replace the soon-to-be-retired Smith doesn't feel like the smartest path, but it could work. One way it can work is how the Vikings ended up with Daniel Jones last year.

Peppers was due $4.5 million, but there is likely offset language built into the contract that will allow the Patriots to recoup salary cap space. That's what happened with Jones last year. The Vikings signed him to the practice squad and paid him just $127,000. He was comfortable doing that because the Giants were picking up the rest of his contract.

Considering his situation is similar to Jones', the Vikings could sign Peppers to a minimum contract with the idea being the same: get him acclimated with the team and see if it's a good fit for down the line. Peppers has the athleticism and profile to be extremely effective in Flores' scheme. His best ability to crash downhill will come in handy when the Vikings want to play big dime with three safeties, something Metellus does well already.

Now, Peppers being 30 years old might be a big deal for other positions, but safety doesn't carry the same concern. If you still have good athleticism and plus instincts, you can play the position well into your 30s without issue. Having Peppers would allow the Vikings to focus on the position that desperately needs to be addressed: cornerback.

If it's a good fit, the Vikings can sign him to a moderate contract to pair with Metellus and Jackson. If Peppers doesn't want to sign with the Vikings, he can potentially help the Vikings recoup a compensatory selection for the 2027 NFL Draft. All it would likely cost is the veteran minimum for either the active roster or practice squad.

It's worth a phone call for the Vikings, even if it doesn't end up working.