In three weeks, free agency will begin for the Minnesota Vikings and 31 NFL teams, one of the most exciting times on the offseason calendar.
Vikings Cut Candidate Is Pretty Bizarre
Players will join new teams, internal free agents will re-up with their existing teams, some will be cut, and a few trades will emerge.
And according to OverTheCap.com, the Vikings have a rather bizarre cut candidate — safety Josh Metellus.
OTC published a list of the NFL’s Top 100 cut candidates last month, and along with center Garrett Bradbury — who actually makes sense as a theoretical cut candidate — Metellus’ name showed up. Most Vikings fans expect a Metellus extension this offseason, not a roster cut.
Nick Korte provided a lengthy disclaimer about his annual cut list: “As always, it is stressed that most players on this list will likely not be cut. There are many mitigating factors as to why players show up on this list. One of course is injury, particularly to players who missed most of the season–although it can also be an aggravating factor if the team determines that injury has made the player unreliable on his contract. Quality of roster depth at the player’s position is another.”
“Teams are also always willing and able to break the trends of contract fate and keep players they think will be helpful for next season’s roster. Common sense needs to be applied as to which players on this list are unlikely to be cut, even if it’s informative to see them on the list,” he added.
Metellus earned Pro Bowl alternate status in 2024, and he feels like a player who will break through before too long. The veteran defender is one of the most versatile players in the NFL, and that should always be considered when evaluating his merits.
He finished 2024 with a 67.6 PFF mark and led all safeties in quarterback pressures.
Metellus is a mainstay of Brian Flores’ scheme, so a contract extension is in play this offseason, though his deal technically spans through the end of 2025. But OTC evidently disagrees fundamentally, evidenced by his Metellus’ placement on the roster-cut list.
Last autumn, Metellus hinted that he never wanted to leave the Vikings. A Michigan Wolverines-themed X account tweeted in September, Metellus’ four-year anniversary of getting added to the Vikings’ active roster, and Metellus found the post. He retweeted with the caption: “Hope I’m never anywhere else 💜.”
Meanwhile, Minnesota faces the possibility of Harrison Smith’s retirement this offseason, in addition to Camryn Bynum’s free agency. Cutting Metellus in the wake of those players potentially leaving the franchise seems impossible.
Folks should expect a Metellus extension, not a roster cut.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.