The addition of Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores provided the organization with an ability to utilize their defensive athletes in a more versatile way. This last season, defensive back Josh Metellus was the team’s ‘Swiss Army Knife’, putting him in a season high 12 different positions at one point in the season.

Metellus is a name you may not be familiar with just yet, but he is the type of athlete who will continue to grow in Flores’ defensive scheme. I expect him to have an even better season in 2024 and the NFL is leaning more toward the utilization of athletes in multiple positions. Gone is the way of just being a safety or a cornerback for example.

We have seen the rise of versatile athletes and that comes with many positives for an organization. Just one positive is that the organization can pay the athlete under a certain title, potentially saving them millions of dollars in the long run.

Metellus is considered a safety, but Pro Football Focus had him categorized under “slot defender”. They said, “According to our numbers, you generated 30 pressures in 2023, 13 more than any other defensive back. We had you classified as a slot defender rather than a safety, based on where you align more frequently.” This is rather interesting as an NFL teams could begin to place these athletes in a different position such as cornerback and the cornerback market may be cheaper than say the safety market.

Josh Metellus’ Background: 

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 210 lbs

High School: Charles W. Flanagan (Florida)

College: Michigan (2016-2019)

NFL Draft: 2020 – Round 6 – Pick 205

NFL Career Team: Minnesota Vikings (2020 – Present)

Contract Details: Signed a two year contract in 2023. Worth $8 million

Statistics: 

2023: 78 Solo Tackles, 38 Assisted Tackles, 4 Forced Fumbles, 1 Interception, 5 Pass Deflections

Entire Career: 180 Total Tackles, 2.5 Sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles, 3 Fumble Recoveries, 11 Pass Deflections and 2 Interceptions

Expectations Heading into 2024:

The fact that the Minnesota Vikings signed Metellus to a new two year contract only worth $8 million is an absolute steal considering the amount of money defenders are earning this offseason. The Colts just paid their defensive back Kenny Moore II to a three year $30 million contract extension, securing a vital piece to their defense.

If you are not familiar with Metellus and never seen him play, turn on a Vikings game in 2024 and just watch how he is placed on the field like a chess piece. He is their every down defender and his snap count jumped significantly from 2022 to 2023. I expect him in 2024 to continue to make plays and be an impactful defender for Flores’ defensive scheme.

If you don’t believe me when it comes to him being a chess piece and/or a valuable asset to the Vikings defensive approach, this post should help change your mind.

It's the RANGE for us, @NoExcuses_23 👏

📺: #MINvsLV on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pWMED8SAQa pic.twitter.com/uxhhNXqEJj

— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2023

At one point in the season he played the following positions:

• Strong Safety
• Free Safety
• Left Cornerback
• Right Cornerback
• Slot Cornerback
• Left Inside Linebacker
• Right Inside Linebacker
• Middle Linebacker
• Left Outside Linebacker
• Right Outside Linebacker
• Right Defensive End
• Left Defensive End

This is extremely impressive and should not go unnoticed and that is one of the reasons why I decided to write this article. Truth be told that I watch NFL Redzone and a lot of the highlights on YouTube after the games complete. I always wondered last season why #44 for the Vikings was moving all over the place but soon realized that he is a special defender and has the speed, length, height, and even the weight to be placed in positions that a normal defensive back may not be in.

Ultimately, if you are unfamiliar with Josh Metellus, I advise you to turn on the tape and just watch the magic unfold. He is bound to have a breakout season in 2024 and I am excited to watch him continue to grow, with the goal of him securing that long term contract extension in another years time.