The NFL offseason is cruising by. This week, the Minnesota Vikings will hold Mandatory Minicamp at TCO Performance Center in Eagan from Tuesday-Thursday. Then, they have one more voluntary OTA scheduled for the week after, June 16-18.
From there, players will get a month or so off before they get ready to reconvene back in the south suburbs of the Twin Cities for Training Camp in mid-late July. Between now and then, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings front office will continue ongoing contract negotiations with coaches and players.
We’ve already touched on some of the coaches who are currently working on new deals, as reported by Darren Wolfson (KSTP) this week on SKOR North. Meanwhile, the most well-known and public player negotiation currently taking place is that of Josh Metellus, a deal Wolfson and others expect to get done eventually.
Minnesota Vikings tight end looking forward to free agency next offseason…?
The same cannot be said about tight end, Josh Oliver, however. The 28-year-old former 3rd round pick out of San Jose State is also due to hit the open market next offseason.
Unlike Metellus, Oliver appears content with playing out the final year of his deal, before entering free agency next March. Don’t get it confused. Just like everyone who works for the Vikings, the 6’5″ road grading tight end likes it in Minnesota and Darren believes he’ll be open to a return.
Josh Oliver is confident in his abilities to earn more money on the open market, after one more successful season in purple. Should the Vikings rise up next offseason, as his best option for 2026 and beyond, Josh Oliver could still be back. Just no early discounts.
“If I had to bet, I’d like to think the two sides come to a happy medium eventually. That this is the next extension to get done. That it’s not Josh Oliver. I think, at this point, Josh Oliver hits unrestricted free agency next March, which my understanding, is he would be okay with.
He’s moved around already. He sure likes it here, he is banking on himself having a good year this year, then being in a position to sign a third contract, maybe even back here. But not signing a contract extension like before training camp. I don’t think that is happening unless things change. But right now, in the moment, no movement on the Josh Oliver front.”
Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)
Losing Josh Oliver, who many consider to be the best blocking tight end in all of football, to free agency would be a big hit to what Kevin O’Connell wants to do offensively, especially since the Vikings are trying to be much more run-heavy, going forward with JJ McCarthy.
How much would losing Josh Oliver hurt the MN Vikings?
As a Viking, Josh Oliver has played 32 games, including 27 starts, racking up 44 receptions on 56 targets for 471 yards and 5 touchdowns, essentially doubling the numbers he had put up through the first four years of his NFL career, in Jacksonville and Baltimore.
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 22 | JAX | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 15 |
| 2020 | 23 | JAX | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 24 | BAL | 14 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 66 |
| 2022 | 25 | BAL | 17 | 9 | 25 | 14 | 149 |
| 2023 | 26 | MIN | 17 | 14 | 28 | 22 | 213 |
| 2024 | 27 | MIN | 15 | 12 | 28 | 22 | 258 |
| Career | 5 Yr | 67 | 37 | 102 | 70 | 701 |
Drafted in 2019 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oliver spent most of his first two NFL seasons on the injured list, including all of 2020. In March 2021, after playing just four total games (3 receptions, 15 yards) with the team that used a 3rd round pick on him, Josh Oliver was traded to the Baltimore Ravens.
Related: Justin Jefferson Reveals Why He Attended Minnesota Vikings OTAs
Under John Harbaugh, Oliver became a crucial piece to the Ravens running game, but was utilized very little, outside of that role. He started only 10 games for Baltimore, in his two years there, catching 23 total passes for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Paso Robles (CA) native then hit free agency in March 2023, where he quickly found a new job with the Minnesota Vikings, inking a three-year deal worth $21 million. What’s followed has been the best seasons of his professional career.
Josh Oliver (84) is such a valuable part of the Vikings’ offense and it probably doesn’t get talked about enough.
9-110-1 receiving line over the last two weeks while also being maybe the best run-blocking tight end in football. A remarkable athlete at 6’5″, 260. pic.twitter.com/vDwISoW3OM
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 12, 2024
Multiple times since arriving in Eagan, head coach Kevin O’Connell has gushed over how much Josh Oliver means to what KOC’s offense does on a weekly basis. But just one year from now, it sounds like one of the most underrated pieces of the Minnesota Vikings’ high-powered attack could very well leave.
Next February/March, we’ll find out how much the Minnesota Vikings really value Oliver, compared to other teams across the league, who may be able to offer him a more prominent role in the passing game, something he has proved he can handle when asked.
Josh Metellus, Vikings struggling to find sweet spot in negotiations
Metellus skipped the first few voluntary Vikings OTA sessions in May, before showing up and VERY lightly participating in their most recent workout, on June 2. It’s pretty clear that the defensive leader’s disinterest this spring is due to ongoing contract negotiations that stretch all the way back to this time last year.
Related: Multiple Insiders Still See Kirk Cousins Landing Back in Minnesota
Oddly enough, it sounds like the trip up in negotiations between Metellus and the Vikings is his position flexibility. Josh wants to be the highest paid safety in the league… but he plays more in the box than he does in the secondary. Should that work against him, though?
“On Josh Matelis I think there’s been enough dialogue and [the Vikings] and [his agent] Drew Rosenhaus have worked out enough contracts: Christian Darrisaw, Aaron Jones, I mentioned Andrew Van Ginkel, go up and down the list…that I’d like to think eventually this gets done. But I’m telling you, I’m struggling to come up with what the numbers look like.”
Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)
Because linebackers and slot cornerbacks — where the former 6th round pick out of Michigan spends most of his time — are usually paid more than safeties. The problem with getting a Metellus deal done has nothing to do with lack of desire. He wants to be back in purple and, likewise, the Minnesota Vikings are motivated to bring him back.
More About:Minnesota Vikings