When the Minnesota Vikings signed safety Josh Metellus to a contract extension last August, it took some people by surprise. He hadn't done much to that point other than special teams, but the team believed in him and he paid them back with a tremendous season.
He played so well that Touchdown Wire's Doug Farrar named him the Vikings' most underrated player.
The Vikings' defense is starting to emerge as one of the league's better units. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores took them from a laughing stock to average which was a pretty impressive feat. Metellus was a major part of that effort playing over 1,200 snaps on all three levels of the defense.
The key to being a standout defensive back in today’s NFL is versatility, and that’s true no matter where you line up. It’s certainly been the case for Josh Metellus of the Vikings. Listed as a safety, Metellus has all kinds of tricks up his sleeve. The 2020 sixth-round pick out of Michigan saw a bit of playing time in his first three NFL seasons, and it all came together for him in 2023. That’s when he totaled three sacks, 29 total pressures, 86 solo tackles, and 45 stops. Metellus also demonstrated the ability to cover receivers everywhere from press on short crossers to the deep third on vertical routes. And he’s great at making the most of Brian Flores’ blitz looks by either hammering home to the quarterback, or dropping into coverage.
The 2024 season will see Metellus a little bit smarter and more mature in how he plays the game. That will make things significantly better for Flores' defense, as they don't have to spend the offseason installing the defense. Metellus is primed to play the same role in 2024 with the versatility angle continuing to be his calling card.
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