Vikings Drop Some Major Money While Scratching Last Huge Item Off the To-Do List
At long last, the Vikings have taken care of safety Josh Metellus, a team captain who thrives on specials and who has proven to be crucial to the Brian Flores defense.
Kick it over to Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network for the update: “The #Vikings have agreed to terms on a new, 3-year contract extension for $36M for standout S Josh Metellus, per me and @TomPelissero. Another reward for their young playmaker.”
Vikings and Josh Metellus Keep a Good Thing Going
Not too long afterwards, Rapoport offered some more details about the financial component of the deal.
The added details: “The deal, including a max value of $42M, also features $25M guaranteed and was done by agent Drew Rosenhaus.” So, some basics. Three years at $36 million means an annual average sitting at $12 million. Pushing things up to that $42 million total would mean seeing the annual average climb to $14 million.
Before the new deal, Mr. Metellus was moving into the final season of his two-year deal that came in at a total of $8 million. Seeing the boost from an average of $4 million per season to somewhere between $12-$14 million per season is a nice raise (how would you feel about tripling your annual salary?).
Lately, there has been quite a bit of chatter about the safety.
On Vikings Territory, I offered these thoughts: “One does wonder about what an appropriate number for Metellus would be. Camryn Bynum became a Colt in the offseason after putting pen to paper for a four-year agreement that’s promising to pay him $60 million. Very little chance, folks, that Mr. Metellus sees a number so high with the Vikings.”
After asking what the defender should get, the piece goes on: “No doubt, more than what they currently are given that Josh Metellus is on the final season of his two-year extension for just $8 million. He signed that deal before breaking out on defense. He’s now solidified himself as a great player, someone who is part of the solution in Minnesota.”
And finally: “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. Seeing him surpass Bynum, though, does seem unlikely.”
In the end, the prediction ended up aging quite well. I thought that things would be closer to $10-$12 million per season, but it’s hard to quibble with the numbers. Metellus deserved a huge raise and it has now been finished.
Apart from taking care of another great player, there’s an unseen benefit for the Vikings: the message that gets sent to the rest of the roster.
Yes, Minnesota will grind out deals and look to be frugal when possible, but they still take care of their own. Play strong football and one can get paid by the Vikings. Gotta think that the guys in Eagan are pleased for at least two reasons: a cherished teammate got his well-deserved raise and the possibility exists that they, too, can get some serious cash if they shine in Minnesota.
Josh Metellus, 27, is a great leader who plays tough, physical football. He is, in short, a Viking, something that the extension helps to secure for at least a little while longer.
