ESPN: Eagles’ Signing One of Best Bargain Deals of Offseason

The Philadelphia Eagles have lost two starting safeties the last two offseason's, Malcolm Jenkins to New Orleans and Jalen Mills to New England.

So when the Eagles signed Anthony Harris on March 19 to a one-year deal $5 million, it was well received around the NFL. ESPN’s Matt Bowen and Mike Clay said the signing is this offseason’s best bargain deal of free agency.

From Bowen:

The Eagles filled a major need here in the secondary, landing the former Vikings safety on a one-year deal for just $5 million. Harris should be an easy scheme fit for an Eagles defense that will play more split-safety coverages in 2021. He's a rangy defender who can create on-the-ball production and drive top-down from a quarters or deep half alignment.

From Clay:

I'm with Matt here. I liked the Browns' signing of John Johnson III for $33.75 million over three years, and the Eagles somehow landed a year of Harris for only $5 million. The Vikings' franchise player only one season ago, Harris was a reliable and productive free safety presence for Minnesota while playing 100% of the defensive snaps in 2020. He fills a massive need for the Eagles opposite Rodney McLeod.

The 28-year-old safety had a career-high 104 tackles and broke up seven passes in 2020, but didn't pick-off a pass after combing for nine the previous two seasons.

Harris played under the franchise tag for a Vikings defense that struggled in 2020 after being one of the best safeties in football the previous two seasons.