Cris Carter, the former Vikings receiver who was elected last month to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is known for making controversial comments about current NFL receivers, from saying Calvin Johnson is not elite to saying no one other than Larry Fitzgerald deserves to be compared to Carter himself. Now Carter has made an interesting comment about an active wide receiver once again.
Asked by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about the Vikings trading Percy Harvin to Seattle, Carter said the Vikings will actually be in better shape now.
“I think the organization did the right thing,” Carter said. “I’m not surprised, given the situation with him not being happy and there being so little chance of a contract extension for the type of money he wants. So they’re better off, especially with a young quarterback, trading Percy and getting something for him compared to going through the season rolling the dice.”
Carter noted that getting a first-round draft pick and two additional picks for Harvin will help the franchise build depth, and that all three of those picks combined will cost the Vikings less than what the Seahawks are going to pay Harvin on his new contract. Carter also noted that the Vikings only had Harvin for nine games last season, and that they went 5-2 without him over the final seven games of the regular season.
“Chicago got an elite receiver in Brandon Marshall and it only cost them two third-round picks,” Carter said. “So I think the Vikings did well. And they’re able to keep their salary cap intact rather than paying $11 million to $13 million a year to a guy that you don’t know how much he’s going to play. With Percy’s style, he’s going to get hurt. And don’t forget, the Vikings also had a lot of success without Percy at the end of last season.”
According to Carter, the Vikings can get better at receiver in the draft and should only go shopping for a receiver in free agency if they can do it at an affordable price. So while Vikings fans may be concerned about the loss of Harvin, Carter says they should just relax.
