HEADLINES

Josh Metellus

NFL Restructures: Thomas, Holcomb, Vikes

August 25th, 2024 at 9:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

Andrew Thomas landed a lucrative investment from the Giants last summer, and his extension has him on the books through 2029. A recent adjustment made to the pact freed up short-term spending power.

New York converted $4.18MM in 2024 base salary into a signing bonus, ESPN’s Field Yates notes. That move created $3.34MM in cap space available to be used during the final roster-building moves of the offseason or breathing space for during the year. The Giants were already in better cap shape than many teams, however, and the move leaves them with nearly $17MM in available funds – more than what will be needed for any one-year, low-cost deals given to free agents in the coming days.

As Dan Duggan of The Athletic notes, New York had the option of converting another $10MM into a signing bonus (and thus freeing up even more room). Teams often carve out the maximum breathing room possible when executing restructures, although such moves are generally made around free agency. Thomas’ cap number is set to jump to $19.92MM next year, but that figure will remain relatively flat throughout the rest of the pact.

Here are details on some other recent NFL restructures:

  • The Steelers reworked the contract of linebacker Cole Holcomb earlier this month. Pittsburgh added $3.1MM in guaranteed compensation, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The contract includes a split, a provision which allows teams to lower the base pay of players if they land on IR or PUP. Holcomb, 28, went down with a knee injury midway through his debut Steelers campaign and is in danger of missing considerable time again in 2024. This move provides him with added locked in compensation should he manage to remain healthy this season, though. Holcomb’s original Pittsburgh pact, signed last spring, runs through 2025.
  • Josh Metellus has negotiated adjustments to his Vikings pact, as detailed by Wilson. Three void years (2026-28) were added to the contract, along with incentives totaling $5MM over the next two years – although $3.5MM of that figure has been deemed not likely to be earned. None of the 26-year-old’s overall pay (ranging from $1.23MM to $3.78MM) or cap figures ($2.01MM to $4.76MM) have changed as a result of this arrangement, though. As a result, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune predicts further restructuring could take place in the future.

Vikings, S Josh Metellus Agree On Extension

September 7th, 2023 at 8:29am CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings have another deal in place. After reaching an agreement with Danielle Hunter to start training camp and then bringing T.J. Hockenson back into the fold with a big-ticket contract, Minnesota will keep one of its top special-teamers around beyond 2023.

Josh Metellus agreed to terms on a two-year extension worth up to $13MM, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. The contract will guarantee the fourth-year safety $6MM. A 2020 sixth-round pick, Metellus was going into a contract year.

[RELATED: Vikings Eyeing 2023 Justin Jefferson Extension]

This offseason involved Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shedding a few contracts. Rick Spielman-era investments Eric Kendricks, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook are out of the picture, while one of Adofo-Mensah’s early pickups — Za’Darius Smith — became a one-and-done. The Vikings also moved on from cornerbacks Patrick Peterson, Cameron Dantzler and Chandon Sullivan. They will field a much younger secondary this season, and Metellus is expected to play a bigger role.

The three starts Metellus made last year marked his first as a pro, but ESPN’s Kevin Seifert notes DC Brian Flores is expected to use Metellus alongside starters Harrison Smith and Lewis Cine in three-safety looks. Metellus received an opportunity in the slot this summer, though UFA addition Byron Murphy is on track to reprise his Cardinals role by moving inside in sub packages.

Metellus’ 929 special teams snaps are the third-most among Vikings since 2020. He was on the field for 258 defensive plays last season, marking a substantial increase from his first two years. The Michigan product made 42 tackles and deflected five passes.

Vikings Using Josh Metellus As Nickel CB

July 2nd, 2023 at 10:14am CST by Rory Parks

After finishing as the second-worst team in the league in 2022 in terms of total defense and passing defense, it came as no surprise that the Vikings parted ways with a few of the cornerbacks who played major roles in last year’s secondary. Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan, and Cameron Dantzler all found themselves on other clubs this offseason, while Minnesota added Byron Murphy in free agency and will look for some of its recent draft selections to prove their worth under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Players like Andrew Booth (second round, 2022), Akayleb Evans (fourth round, 2022), Mekhi Blackmon (third round, 2023), and Jay Ward (fourth round, 2023) are all in line for significant CB snaps this season (while Ward was drafted as a safety, he lined up at every position in the defensive backfield during his collegiate career at LSU). Plus, as Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes, Josh Metellus could see significant action in the slot, as the coaching staff gave him plenty of reps in that role during spring work and made a concerted effort to keep him on the field.

Metellus, a 2020 sixth-round choice, was used primarily on special teams in his first two years in the NFL. Last season, he saw the most extensive action of his pro career, earning three starts and a 22% defensive snap share. His time on defense, though, was spent mostly as a replacement for stalwart safety Harrison Smith, so the fact that Flores wants to see what Metellus can do as a nickel corner is notable.

Although Murphy is perfectly capable of playing in the slot and should be expected to line up there frequently in 2023, it could be that Flores wants his most experienced corner to spend the bulk of his time outside the numbers. That, along with the fact that Smith and Camryn Bynum will reprise their roles as starting safeties, could explain why Metellus is getting a long look at nickel.

According to Seifert, Metellus appeared comfortable in that spot, and assuming he carries that momentum into training camp, he will be ticketed for the most playing time of his career this season. With 2023 serving as his platform year, the timing is perfect for the Michigan product to maximize his earning power, particularly since slot corners are effectively starting players in today’s pass-heavy league (even if the market has been slow to recognize that).

In his time on defense last season, Metellus allowed a 68.4% completion percentage but generally kept the ball in front of him, as he yielded a modest 83.9 QB rating on the 19 balls thrown in his direction. He also recorded five passes defensed and the first interception of his career, which represents quality ball production in such a small sample.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/26/21

November 26th, 2021 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/16/21

November 16th, 2021 at 5:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/18/20

September 18th, 2020 at 5:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Vikings Sign K Chase McLaughlin To Practice Squad

September 8th, 2020 at 12:58pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings signed kicker Chase McLaughlin, kicker Chase McLaughlin, linebacker Hardy Nickerson, and defensive tackle Albert Huggins to the practice squad on Tuesday. With that, the Vikes have filled out their 16-man unit:

McLaughlin bounced around last year, appearing in games for the Colts, Chargers, and 49ers. He started off the 2019 season with the Vikings’ practice squad, and they’re bringing him back in 2020 to serve as extra insurance for Dan Bailey. Earlier this summer, he lost out on the Colts’ kicking job when Chris Ballard & Co. chose rookie Rodrigo Blankenship.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/23/20

July 23rd, 2020 at 3:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s draft pick agreements, with the list being updated throughout the day.

  • The Vikings picked an interesting year to make 15 draft choices, given the pandemic’s impact on developmental work. But the team is nearly finished with rookie contract agreements. Minnesota signed third-round cornerback Cameron Dantzler (Mississippi State), fourth-round defensive end D.J. Wonnum (South Carolina), fifth-round corner Harrison Hand (Temple), fifth-round wideout K.J. Osborn (Miami), sixth-round tackle Blake Brandel (Oregon State), sixth-round safety Josh Metellus (Michigan), seventh-round defensive end Kenny Willekes (Michigan State) and seventh-round safety Brian Cole (Mississippi State). Minnesota lost Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander this offseason and tripled up on corners in the draft. First-round corner Jeff Gladney is the Vikes’ lone unsigned pick.
  • Top 2020 Steelers pick Chase Claypool, a second-rounder, is now under contract. The Steelers have their latest Day 2 wide receiver investment signed, along with Round 6 safety Antoine Brooks (Maryland). Claypool’s addition means the top four Pittsburgh wideouts — JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Claypool — came from the second or third rounds. The Notre Dame product has quite the SPARQ profile, going 6-foot-4, 238 pounds and running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.
  • Washington wrapped up its 2020 draft class by signing Round 4 tackle Saahdiq Charles, Round 5 linebacker Khaleke Hudson, Round 6 safety Kamren Curl and Round 7 defensive end James Smith-Williams.
  • The Bengals signed one of Claypool’s former Fighting Irish teammates, fifth-round defensive end Khalid Kareem. He is the first of Cincinnati’s seven 2020 picks to agree to terms.