It’s no secret that safety Josh Metellus is waiting on a contract extension from the Vikings. He’s currently playing out a two-year, $8 million deal that he signed before he became a starter on defense, meaning he’s very much deserving of a raise.

That said, Metellus isn’t interested in making this into something bigger than it has to be, which explains why he has been in attendance at TCO Performance Center during mandatory minicamp.

“I’m here being the same guy,” Metellus said. “You guys know me.”

Though he hasn’t been a full participant in every part of practice, sitting out mostly during 7-on-7 drills so as not to risk getting injured, Metellus has still made it a point to be around his teammates.

“That’s part of the process right now,” Metellus said. “Everybody understands the situation.”

Asked if a contract extension is on the horizon, Metellus deferred to his agent Drew Rosenhaus, who is handling all of the conversations with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at the moment.

“That’s between Drew and them boys upstairs,” Metellus said. “I’ll let Drew handle that.”It’s pretty clear that in a vacuum Metellus would like to stay in Minnesota for the long haul.

“This is home for me and my family,” Metellus said. “We love it here.”

After being selected by the Vikings in the 2020 draft, Metellus was actually cut early in his career before quickly being signed back to the practice squad. He steadily carved out a niche for himself from there, cutting his teeth as a key contributor on special teams, then graduating into a much more prominent role on defense.

Maybe the hardest part of the negotiations is the fact Metellus plays so many different positions for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. It’s not uncommon to see Metellus line up all over the field on any given series as the ultimate chess piece for Flores.

As important as Metellus has become because of his versatility, it also makes it challenging to figure out his worth compared to some of his peers. Should he be paid as a safety? Should he be paid as a linebacker? Should he be paid as a hybrid of both?

“I came into the league as a safety, and that will forever be my true position,” Metellus said. “All the other stuff is something that adds to my value. I’m a ball player. Whatever position it is, I’m going to do my thing to help the team win.”

The fact that edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and tight end Josh Oliver recently signed contract extensions with the Vikings doesn’t bother Metellus when thinking about his future. He’s confident in the player he has turned himself. He’s going to let his production speak for itself.

“I know what kind of player I am in this league,” Metellus said. “I’ve shown that, and I’m only growing.”