EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings placed the cherry on top of an efficient offseason Saturday, agreeing to terms with safety Josh Metellus on a new three-year contract worth up to $42 million, the team announced.
“Such a vital part of our success on and off the field,” coach Kevin O’Connell said. “It’s hard to imagine them making them any better as a player and person than Josh Metellus.”
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This wasn’t a surprise. Metellus is represented by agent Drew Rosenhaus, who has orchestrated numerous deals with the Vikings in recent years. Over the last few months, Metellus deferred any contract questions to Rosenhaus, and last week, the defensive back spoke optimistically about the possibility. He said Saturday that he never wavered in his preference. He wanted to remain with the Vikings, the team that drafted him in 2020 in the sixth round. He also knew that his versatility could come with complexity in terms of how much he’d be worth.
Metellus’ impact runs parallel to defensive coordinator Brian Flores’s arrival in 2023. Metellus had already become a key special teams contributor at that point, but Flores recognized Metellus’ physical traits and mental acumen. Metellus played 1,065 defensive snaps in 2023, then 991 last year. He has combined for 219 tackles, five forced fumbles and three interceptions over that span — a statistics package depicting all of his abilities.
“At the end of the day, the versatility is just who I am as a player,” Metellus said. “I always tell you guys I’m a big football guy. I don’t like to get into positions. I just think I’m a damn good football player.”
Include his role behind the scenes — few members of the Vikings’ roster are more reliable for youngsters needing advice — and it’s easy to understand why Minnesota sought to keep him in purple. This deal punctuates an active offseason. The team extended O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. It improved the trenches both offensively and defensively. It extended edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and tight end Josh Oliver. The only item remaining on the laundry list is ensuring young quarterback J.J. McCarthy is as prepared as possible come Week 1 in Chicago on Monday night.
How Metellus thrives in Flores’ system
The 27-year-old has become one of the cornerstones of Flores’s helter-skelter defense. He’s categorized on the team website as a safety, but that doesn’t do it justice.
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He plays linebacker. He’s frequently lined up against bigger-bodied receivers and tight ends in the slot. He’ll even align on the line of scrimmage, showing the potential that he could rush the passer. Last year, Flores said: “Josh is as valuable a player on the roster as we have.”
Metellus’ contract was set to expire after the 2025 season, and the Vikings’ safety room already thinned this offseason with Cam Bynum’s departure. Securing Metellus keeps another one of the defense’s core players intact. It also eliminates any potential preseason hoopla. One of the bright points of Adofo-Mensah’s tenure is the team’s ability to generate these deals without any publicly disgruntled parties. That’s a rarity in the NFL.
How good will the defense be in 2025?
Few coordinators have done as exceptional a job as Flores over the last two seasons. Metellus has had a hard time in recent days quelling his excitement for what’s possible during this go-around. There’s optimism in how much interior defenders Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave will affect the quarterback, which will force the ball out faster.
The early returns on cornerback signings Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah have also been positive. O’Connell spent a minute Saturday expressing how impressive Rodgers has been in terms of how often he’s in the correct positions. Minnesota has done enough through two seasons that they won’t be able to reinvent the entire wheel, but Flores will certainly have some schematic tweaks up his sleeve to confound quarterbacks just as he has the last couple of years.
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
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