Joshua

Metellus

Metellus will undergo surgery on his shoulder, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. He has been playing through the injury as of late, but there isn’t much point in that anymore with the Vikings out of the playoff hunt. His season ends with six pass breakups, two interceptions, and .5 sacks.

He practiced all week, unlike the leadup to Week 12, so perhaps there’s a chance Greenard goes after missing each of the last two games with the shoulder injury. Josh Metellus (knee/shoulder), Theo Jackson (neck) and Jalen Redmond (hip) are also questionable for the Vikings defense.

The deal keeps Metellus attached to the Vikings through the 2028 season. Metellus, a former No. 205 overall pick, was initially waived by the Vikings before being brought back on a team-friendly contract, only to earn a pay jump and more security through his play on the field. He heads into the 2025 season a seasoned starter for Brian Flores’ defense.

The No. 205 overall pick of the draft, players like Metellus usually get the 53-man roster benefit of the doubt, but the Vikings had one of the biggest draft classes in NFL history. There were always going to be casualties. Metellus will be first in line for a practice squad spot. Although he is still only 22, Metellus is not a plus athlete by NFL standards.

Metellus (5’11/209) was a three-year starting strong safety at Michigan who earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention as a senior after recording 74 tackles and two interceptions. An overly aggressive safety with a compact frame, Metellus was better as a downhill tackler than in pass coverage. His instincts and first step need to improve to see passing-downs snaps in the NFL, especially because he only has 39th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism and 4.55 speed. While below-average as a coverage safety, Metellus may be a productive player against the run and on special teams based on his physicality.

Metellus (5’11/209) was a three-year starting strong safety at Michigan who earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention as a senior after recording 74 tackles and two interceptions. An overly aggressive safety with a compact frame, Metellus was better as a downhill tackler than in pass coverage. His instincts and first step need to improve to see passing-downs snaps in the NFL, especially because he only has 39th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism and 4.55 speed. While below-average as a coverage safety, Metellus may be a productive player against the run and on special teams based on his physicality.

Metellus (5'11/209) has been named as an All-Big Ten performer three times while racking up 186 tackles, 14 PBU, 9.0 sacks and five interceptions in his collegiate career. Metellus is billed as a strong tackler with a sniper mentality across the middle. His versatility will help him provide value to a defensive backfield but he experienced some struggles in coverage last season. He has trouble keeping up with speedier wide receivers and is on the small side for box duty. Zierlein views Metellus as a quality backup at the NFL level who can play multiple positions.

Metellus ranked 11th among the “true” safeties who ran in the event, and he also had a solid vertical jump at 36.5 inches, and a respectable 124-inch broad jump. The 5-foot-11, 209-pound defender also was among the top defensive backs with 20 bench press reps. Compared to Chuck Clark by Lance Zierlein, Metellus projects as a box-safety at the highest level.

Metellus (6'0/204) has been a stalwart for the Michigan secondary, so it’s not a surprise to see him get an invitation to the prestigious event. He’s picked off two passes, and he also has 3.5 tackles of loss and 47 overall tackles for the Wolverines in his senior campaign. Depending on testing -- and who declares -- it wouldn’t be a surprise if Metellus was one of the first safeties off the board in 2020; although it’s worth pointing out that the position is not one of the strengths of the class.

Metellus (6'0/204) allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete just 41.8% of their passes last season, and his passer rating allowed of 34.3 was by far the best in the Big Ten. Second on the list was Stanley Green of Illinois, who allowed a passer rating of 40.1. Metellus is just one part of a Michigan secondary that should be very good this fall, with corner Lavert Hill also expected to stand out.