Vikings Approaching Potentially Costly ‘Deadline’ With Versatile Team Leader

The Minnesota Vikings are headed for a reckoning with sixth-year safety Josh Metellus. He is in the final year of a two-year, $8 million contract. Metellus is due for a raise, and that is where things get interesting for the Vikings. Waiting could prove costly.

The Athletic’s Alec Lewis underscored that, despite his positional listing, Metellus’ situation is “more interesting” than that of former teammate Camryn Bynum, because of his versatility.

“Last year, Metellus played about 40 percent of his snaps at linebacker, 30 percent at slot cornerback and 16 percent at safety. The rest of the time, he lined up on the defensive line or out wide against elite receivers,” Lewis wrote on June 26. “From a compensation standpoint, what’s fair? Paying Metellus like a linebacker? Like a slot cornerback? Or like a chess piece who can reliably play all of these positions?

“There is a drastic gap in pay between those various worlds.”

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“The beginning of training camp presents one potential deadline, even if it’s fairly arbitrary,” Lewis wrote. “Metellus does not need many practice reps to perform in [Vikings defensive coordinator Brian] Flores’ defense. Nor do the Vikings need to see Metellus on the field in practice to know what he can do. The conviction from both sides almost underscores their shared fit. Why would either side be willing to move on if it has as much faith as it does in one another?”

Bynum, a full-time safety, signed a four-year, $60 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency this offseason, perhaps offering a baseline for Metellus and the Vikings.

Josh Metellus’ Versatility Complicates Contract Conversation

The Vikings selected Metellus in the sixth round (No. 205 overall) of the 2020 draft.  He has started 27 games over the past two seasons, but he has appeared in all 17 games for three straight years, last missing a game in Week 11 of the 2021 season.

Lewis described Metellus’ role as “truly unique” and “unlike anyone or anything else.” Metellus tallied 103 total tackles in 2024, his second straight season crossing the century mark.

He also had 5 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble.

Metellus logged the fourth-most defensive snaps on the team in 2024, per Pro Football Focus, a number that underscores how much the Vikings relied on his versatility. Again, though, that is where things get complicated.

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Lewis noted a linebacker-esque deal could pay Metellus roughly $9.5 million. Being paid like the multi-purpose weapon that he is could yield in the neighborhood of $14.5 million.

Per Over The Cap, the Vikings have $23.5 million in space as of June 29.

Vikings Risking Rising Price Tag on Fan Favorite Josh Metellus

The Vikings have been fortunate that Metellus has been overlooked on a national scale so far in his career.

Metellus led all strong safeties in fan voting for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.

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He was not selected. Budda Baker of the Arizona Cardinals and Brian Branch of the Detroit Lions claimed two of the three slots as strong safeties. Branch was second in the fan voting, but Baker ranked sixth.

The Vikings may not be so lucky this season, especially if they are forced to rely upon Metellus even more this season with Bynum gone, and he delivers.