The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of a transition in their secondary. While Harrison Smith is returning for another season, the team let safety Camryn Bynum leave in free agency, paving the way for Theo Jackson to step into the other starting safety role.
Jackson, 26, was a sixth-round pick (No. 204 overall) by the Tennessee Titans in 2022. After spending his rookie season on the Titans’ practice squad, the Vikings signed him and he has primarily contributed on special teams so far. However, his role is about to change. With Bynum’s departure, the Vikings secured Jackson with a three-year deal, worth just over $9 million, believing he is ready to take over as a starter.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert described the Vikings re-signing Jackson as their “under-the-radar move” of the offseason, noting Jackson’s strong performance in training camps and limited defensive snaps. The Vikings are confident in his ability to step into Bynum’s role and be effective.
The team’s confidence in Jackson is echoed by other sources, including Alec Lewis from The Athletic, who highlighted the Vikings’ high regard for Jackson within the staff and the roster. Lewis also mentioned the team’s efforts to maintain a solid safety pipeline, especially in case of an emergency. According to Pro Football Reference, Bynum, Smith, and Josh Metellus ranked second, third, and fourth in snaps among Vikings defensive players.
Former fourth-round pick Jay Ward is also climbing the depth chart behind Jackson. Lewis wrote that Jackson has impressed coaches and teammates in practice and during training camp, and expects him to take on the deep safety role alongside Smith in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme. Metellus is likely to remain closer to the line of scrimmage. Although Jackson and Ward have a combined 76 games played, neither has made a start yet.
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