Josh Metellus, Vikings Agree to 3-Year, $36M Contract Extension Ahead of 2025 Season

The Minnesota Vikings are signing safety Josh Metellus to a multi-year extension, Kevin O'Connell told reporters on Saturday.

The three-year, $36 million deal is worth up to $42 million with $25 million guaranteed, agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Metellus, 27, is heading into his sixth campaign with the Vikings. He was previously set to hit unrestricted free agency after the 2025 season, per Spotrac.

First taking on a larger role for the Vikings during O'Connell's first season in 2022, Metellus has become a key part of Brian Flores' defense since the coordinator was hired in 2023.

Metellus has played 90.5 percent of the Vikings' defensive snaps over those last two campaigns, per Pro Football Reference.

He finished the 2024 season having appeared in all 17 games while racking up 1,065 defensive snaps, 112 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits.

"I think, last year at one point, I counted in one game he lined up in seven different spots," O'Connell said about Metellus. "I think his role is wildly dynamic."

O'Connell continued, "Throughout Flo's time here, how they've continued to layer upon layer things in the defense based upon his roles, which are inside the box as a linebacker type, he can be a down safety, he can play big nickel, he can play man-to-man coverage at all five spots.

"Whether it's a really good back, we can put him on the Christian McCaffreys of the world, we can put him on dynamic tight ends, bigger slot receivers. That allows our corners to stay matched."

Metellus sat out 7-on-7 drills during voluntary offseason activities as part of a "hold-in" for a new contract, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert.

He was a full participant in training camp practice on Wednesday, but missed practice on Thursday and Friday due to what the Vikings identified as a "minor ankle injury."

O'Connell told reporters that Metellus will remain sidelined for Saturday's practice but will likely return to the field on Monday, per Seifert.