Report: Giants, Vikings discussed Anthony Harris trade

The New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings discussed this offseason a trade that would have sent veteran safety Anthony Harris to the Giants, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Garafolo added “The Vikings valued Harris and didn’t tag him just to give him away so the deal didn’t materialize.”

When this happened is not clear, with Garafolo saying only “after Harris was tagged.” The deadline to apply the tag was March 5, so whatever discussions were held likely came between that date and prior to the NFL Draft when the Giants selected safety Xavier McKinney in Round 2.

It’s really little more than a footnote to the offseason for the Giants. It does, though, speak to the idea that the Giants — after watching Curtis Riley and then Antoine Bethea try to play free safety the past two seasons — were always committed to making a big play to upgrade that position.

Harris, 29, will make $11.441 million playing the 2020 season on the franchise tag for Minnesota.