Vikings Rumors: Undrafted Safety Anthony Harris Eyes Playing Time

Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman jumped at the chance to sign Virginia safety Anthony Harris after he went undrafted, who thought Minnesota was the best fit for him:

"You got to love it as a defensive back," Harris said at the team's recent rookie minicamp. "They've got great position coaches in coach (Jerry) Gray and (assistant defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon), and coach (Mike) Zimmer, a defensive-minded guy (who) works very well with defensive backs. So I felt like it was a good opportunity for me to get around some guys who've been in the business a long time and been very successful, and try to help improve my game."

Harris was looking for a place he'd have the opportunity to play. Zimmer liked what he saw in Harris, and has him in the competition to be a starter next to Harrison Smith.

"He's a very instinctive, smart, very, very smart, very communicative safety," Zimmer said. "I think he plays really hard. He has a lot of the traits of the starting safeties in this league."

Harris was a three-year starter for the Cavaliers and expected to be drafted, but a shoulder injury scared teams away. Some draft analysts believed he could go as early as the third round before the injury.

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