With Great Enthusiasm, The Vikings are Welcoming a Specific Roster Problem
Currently, the Vikings are working through a problem of their own design: the unsigned Josh Metellus extension.
The versatile, intelligent safety has far outperformed his two-year, $8 million contract. Very reasonably, Mr. Metellus — who is now 27 and who has been in the NFL for five seasons — is looking to snag a hearty payday. Can’t blame him. He has earned it.
And, to be sure, the Vikings are happy to be working through the issue. They took a bet on Metellus getting better as he was promoted to a starting spot in 2023. He has made the team look smart for doing so, so much so that a new deal is mandatory.
Look around the Vikings’ roster. Any other examples of players who fall into a similar category?
The Vikings are Welcoming a Specific Roster Problem
In Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s world, these situations would fall into the “champagne problems” category.
Essentially, the GM is looking to do deals with players who far outperform the money that’s been handed over. The end result is going to be players who come back to the negotiation table in search of more money. Folks, that’s a problem that’s worth solving, one that’s vastly superior to players underperforming their deals and being shown the door prematurely.
Indeed, the issue exists within the example up top: Josh Metellus and the single-season that’s left on the defender’s deal. Neither the team nor the player are looking for a breakup. Rather, the goal is to arrive at some sort of middle ground where the salary cap charge is manageable for the team while Metellus gets the financial reward he so clearly deserves.
The Vikings are dealing with several other players who have the potential to end up in a similar spot.
Simply move sideways on the roster to uplift safety Theo Jackson as an example. He’s operating on a three-year deal that’s sitting at $9,315,000. A nice raise given what he was making previously as a late-round selection, but one that could be a bargain as early as 2025. The hope is that Jackson’s on-field play is sizzling, necessitating a contract adjustment before too long.
One also thinks of Isaiah Rodgers, the smaller corner who doesn’t lack for speed.
Mr. Rodgers is coming off a Super Bowl victory with the Eagles. He agreed to become a Viking for a pair of seasons at $11,045,000. If he fulfills the hype as a strong CB2, then the Vikings will be very pleased with their investment.
Standing on the other end of that positive development would be a potential need to adjust Rodgers’ deal. A strong CB2 who averages just $5.5(ish) million per season is a total bargain. Rodgers will be looking to prove that he’s capable of being that player, forcing the Vikings to come back to the negotiation table to account for his excellence.
In fact, the Vikings’ GM — Mr. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — has discussed the Rodgers situation previously. Paul Allen was moving through a long, winding conversation with Adofo-Mensah, eventually bringing things around to Isaiah Rodgers.
“Isaiah Rodgers, like you said,” Adofo-Mensah explains after mentioning some of the larger free-agent deals, “those can be a little bit bigger bets.”
The GM goes on to liken the Rodgers signing to a less valuable stock within his broader portfolio of additions. The point? Rodgers was had for a certain price right now but could soon become a lot more expensive (just like a company’s stock that rapidly increases in value since the business thrives).
Other players who come to mind are running back Jordan Mason (two years for $10,500,000), Ivan Pace Jr. (who is in the final season of his three-year contract at $2,715,000), and Rondale Moore (one year for $2,000,000).
If things go according to plan, the Vikings are looking at several players — Jackson, Rodgers, Mason, Pace, Moore, etc. — who will follow the Josh Metellus path: quickly outperform their contracts, forcing the Vikings to confront the problem of needing to pay exemplary players who have become underpaid.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
Former Vikings QB Wins UFL Championship MVP
