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Anthony Harris receives franchise tag from Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have used their franchise tag on safety Anthony Harris and is set to make $11.441 million in 2020.

Harris, 28, tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions during his breakout campaign in 2019 and has totaled nine over the past two seasons. He also picked off Drew Brees during Minnesota's wild-card playoff victory in New Orleans last season.

The Vikings were able to use the franchise tag on Harris after their two-year extension with quarterback Kirk Cousins cleared $10 million in salary-cap space for 2020.

This is the third time in franchise history that the Vikings have used a tag.

Harris first saw his way onto the field via special teams and became a starter at safety opposite Harrison Smith in 2018, when injuries to Andrew Sendejo paved the way for Harris' opportunity.

Harris entered the NFL in 2015 as an undrafted free agent from Virginia. Injuries at the end of his college career and subsequent shoulder and hand surgeries limited what he could do physically early on in Minnesota.

He has 180 tackles, 21 passes defensed and the nine interceptions in five seasons.