The Vikings’ Top Mystery Will Gain a Crucial Clue Today
Does Josh Metellus show up for training camp? The team captain is still awaiting an extension, a contract dilemma that led to a hold-in for summer practice sessions.
The Vikings’ top mystery involves how Mr. Metellus will approach things both today and moving forward. In the past, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has worked through other contract issues with star players. Most notably, there was the Justin Jefferson resolution that occurred prior to training camp, but then there were contract issues with Danielle Hunter and T.J. Hockenson that lingered around TCO Performance Center. Does the GM get things squared away soon? If not, how will the safety respond?
The Vikings’ Top Mystery:
Josh Metellus, An Unsigned Extension, & Training Camp
Left to social media alone, Metellus would appear to be a happy camper.
Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard sent along a message, “They gon hate when the work match the numbers. Vice Versa.” Metellus shared the thought before offering his own comment: “Let’s show em.” There was even a shared video from the Vikings’ official social media, one where J.J. McCarthy is seen walking into TCO Performance Center. All he adds are emojis atop the short clip. I’ll be the first to admit to limitations when it comes to speaking emoji, but the smiles seem to suggest excitement from Metellus about McCarthy.
Plus, the pinned post is still of Harrison Smith cropped onto Prince. And there’s a photo of Metellus rallying his teammates included as the top picture. In other words, he doesn’t appear to be in a bitter standoff with the team. He’s interacting with teammates and the team’s official social media, doing so in a regular manner that doesn’t point toward there being a major problem.
The reality, though, is that Mr. Metellus is very underpaid. He’s on the final season of the two-year extension he signed before breaking out as a starting defender. At just $4 million per season, Metellus is reasonably looking for a large raise.
Josh Metellus, currently carrying a $6,541,667 cap charge, could get a raise in 2025 quite easily. The team has more than $23.5 million in open room, so a bump in pay wouldn’t be difficult. Plus, an extension could actually create rather than diminish cap space in 2025. Indeed, an extension has the potential to open close to $3.5 million in added room.
Josh Metellus is often a linebacker/slot corner, a hybrid defender who gets safety attached to his name. He is an excellent example of what it means to be a Brian Flores defender insofar as he’s someone who is intelligent and versatile, rugged and selfless.
He’s at his best when he’s allowed to come forward, performing like a strong run defender more often than as someone who is excellent in pass coverage. What should the Vikings pay for that skill set?
Close to twenty NFL safeties average at least $10 million per season (a crew that includes Harrison Smith, an all-time great). Mr. Metellus, at the very least, should be within that range, jumping into the double digits for millions-per-year.
The team captain is coming off yet another season where he was a central part of the defense and the special teams. The 27-year-old put up 991 snaps on defense and 210 snaps on special teams. Not too many players around the league are asked to do that, folks.
His 2024 involved playing in all seventeen games, picking up 103 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 6 QB hits, 2 interceptions, and 5 passes defended. Minnesota would be wise to take care of him with a strong extension.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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