Did Josh Metellus Stir the Pot a Bit?
With training camp on the horizon, the Vikings have yet to solve the Josh Metellus problem.
The safety is a great player, someone who helps to hold the Brian Flores defense together due to his ruggedness, versatility, and intelligence. Clearly, the veteran puts a lot of work into his game; if he didn’t, then there would be no way for him to be successful doing so much for the Vikings’ defense. He sensibly wants a raise.
Josh Metellus and The Unsigned Extension
In what appears to now be a yearly ritual, the Vikings are moving through a contract issue with a great veteran.
One thinks back to Danielle Hunter and the back-and-forth with the new regime about being underpaid. So, too, did T.J. Hockenson find himself in the headlines due to needing a new contract. Finally, there was the most prominent example that caused a few sleepless nights for Vikings fans: the Justin Jefferson extension that seemed to drag on forever.
In the end, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found solutions all around. Gotta assume the GM will be able to do likewise with Mr. Metellus, but that may not undercut all of the anxiety out there.
We’re now at the stage of the contract mystery where social media hints are factoring into the mix.
Indeed, Josh Metellus retweeted a short clip where there’s a bit of film analysis. What’s most notable, perhaps, is what gets included as written text above the video: “In a league where versatility is adored, Josh Metellus is a player that doesn’t get nearly the appreciation he deserves. A defensive coordinator’s dream, and quietly entering a contract year (Vikings better change that).”
The final words — Vikings better change that — are the most telling.
Underneath those words is a suggestion: the onus is on the team to rectify the issue. A negotiation is, by definition, something that occurs by a minimum of two parties. In this case, the player and the franchise are working on what is a fair and appropriate contract for the defender. The social media post that gets shared by Metellus offers a hint that more of the responsibility falls on the team. A simple retweet doesn’t necessarily mean that Metellus shares the exact opinion, but it’s one that he has amplified.
Now, don’t misunderstand what’s being said: Josh Metellus has fully earned a large extension. No debating that basic point. The safety has been operating on a two-year deal worth a total of $8 million. He has taken the expectations that accompany that kind of middle-class NFL contract and blown them to smithereens.
The issue rests in knowing how high is too high. Very reasonably, Metellus could be asking for Camryn Bynum money — $60 million across four years — but the Vikings haven’t shown a huge appetite for paying safeties top-end money under Adofo-Mensah’s leadership. Even worse is that Minnesota’s 2026 cap charges are already monstrous, making a sizable new deal harder to manage.
Last season, Josh Metellus played in all seventeen games. He picked up 991 snaps on defense and 210 on special teams. Along the way, Metellus had 103 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 6 QB hits, 1 forced fumble, 2 interceptions, and 5 passes defended.
The No. 205 pick from the 2020 NFL Draft is 27 and is a team captain.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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