4 Vikings Defensive Starters Playing for New Contracts
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense ranked in the Top 2 last year in credible efficiency rankings, only bested by Sean Payton’s team in Denver.
Three — well, kind of four — defensive starters for the Vikings are entering contract years in 2025. Here’s who’s playing for a new deal.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores will hope to carry over the 2024 momentum into 2025, and all signs point to another stellar defense from the Vikings.
Along the way, however, a handful of Vikings defenders will embark on contract years — their final season with the team or contractual inflection point if no extensions are reached this summer.
The players are listed in alphabetical order.
1. Josh Metellus (S)
Thankfully for everybody’s sake, Metellus’ contract could be — probably will be — resolved well before the 2026 offseason. The Vikings value their Swiss Army knife all-arounder to the utmost, and Mettelus hasn’t been bashful about declaring his desire to remain in the Twin Cities for the long haul.
Still, 2025 is the final year of Metellus’ contract, a team-friendly arrangement negotiated a couple of offseasons ago when Metellus hadn’t fully broken out into prominence.
There’s a chance — very small — that Metellus skeddales to a new team next March, the last guy later on this list retires, and boom, the Vikings would need all new safeties.
Sporting News‘ Bill Heyen wrote about Metellus last month, “Josh Metellus is one of the most underrated defenders in the NFL, at least outside of Minnesota. Vikings fans know what they have with Metellus, but they aren’t sure how long he’ll be around.”
“Metellus is entering the final year of his contract. And contract talks haven’t progressed perfectly. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis reported that it’s not clear whether a deal will be done before training camp. He’s a tricky value proposition, because Metellus could seek to be paid like a top safety, even though his pedigree and production probably point to more of a mid-tier deal.”
His next contract should fetch $10 million or more per season.
Heyen concluded, “It seems every player that signs an extension these days gets record-setting money, but that won’t quite be Metellus. We’ll have to wait and see how the two sides compromise here. Vikings fans will just hope the deal gets done sooner rather than later.”
Vikings Defensive Starters Who Need New Contracts
The back end of the Vikings’ defense needs some contractual love, including extensions for Josh Metellus and Ivan Pace Jr.
2. Jeff Okudah (CB)
Some fans have really high hopes for Jeff Okudah, the third overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Okudah has never fully exploded or brought to life his Top 3 draft stock, but optimists believe that could happen with Flores’ tutelage.
A couple of websites, like OurLads.com, even have Okudah penciled in as a starting outside cornerback for the 2025 Vikings. If accurate, that would mean Okudah is a starter in the expiring year of his one-year deal handed out by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
No matter what, this season is Okudah’s last best chance to prove he belongs in the NFL as a long-term starter. And that’s if he wins a CB2 job in Flores’ defense, which is up for grabs at the moment.
3. Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)*
*Restricted Free Agent
As it stands, Pace Jr. will not leave the Vikings in 2026. Because he was an undrafted free agent two years ago, his UDFA deal will expire after this season, and then Minnesota will have the right to dictate the timing of his contract in 2026. A team would have to match the Vikings’ offer sheet on Pace Jr., giving Adofo-Mensah more control than usual.
The fact remains, however, that Pace Jr.’s performance in 2025 will determine the fate of his next contract. By the time Minnesota arrives at the 2026 offseason, a Pace Jr. extension will be a hot topic. It will be a natural time for his next long-term deal.
It’s just that Adofo-Mensah won’t have to treat him like an “ordinary” free agent who was drafted at the beginning of his career. UDFAs have special rules.
4. Harrison Smith (S)*
*Mentioned for full disclosure.
Smith is likely on the final stop of his retirement tour. He’s not seeking a new contract or exploring his future in the NFL.
He’s mentioned here, nevertheless, in case the beholder is tracking players in their final season. Smith will turn 37 next February, and the fact that he’s still playing now is rather amazing.
Get ready to ponder Smith’s replacement at safety next offseason.
Vikings Linked to Big-Name Free Agent
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