Captain Munnerlyn is Harrison Smith’s teammate, but he was acting Monday more like his agent.

Pro Football Focus ranks Smith, in his fourth season with the Vikings, the best safety in the NFL. Munnerlyn said he was talking in a defensive backs meeting about what that could mean.

“I was making jokes earlier, ‘Pay the man,’ ” said the cornerback. “The man is one of the best in the business. I was telling the whole group, ‘Pay the man because he’s phenomenal.’ ”

Smith, who is still on his rookie contract, figures to get a lucrative extension when he becomes a free agent after next season. The Vikings have put negotiations off until after this season because they generally don’t extend contracts with more than one year left on them.

Smith’s salary is $2.27 million this season and $5.28 million next season, in the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

According to Pro Football Focus, it’s not even close who has been the NFL’s top safety three games into the 2015 season. Smith has a plus-9.4 rating, giving him a whopping lead over Philadelphia’s Walter Thurmond, at 5.3.

“I don’t think too much about it, especially after three games,” Smith said of the ranking. “We’ve still got a lot of football to play, so I just try to improve on what I’m doing and just try to keep a level head.”

Smith never has been one to boast, but he said he does consider himself one of the elite safeties in the league.

“To be honest, I’ve always thought that, even before I played (in the NFL),” he said. “I think if you’re a competitor, that’s what you always think. All the other people can rank (me) where they want, but that’s always my mind-set.”

Smith was all over the field with his physical play during Sunday’s 31-14 victory over San Diego at TCF Bank Stadium. He had eight tackles, including one for loss, and a pass deflection, and had the best Pro Football Focus ranking among all Vikings at plus-5.2.

“He made some really good plays (Sunday),” coach Mike Zimmer said. “He’s not getting the interceptions (none this season), but he hasn’t had many opportunities. But he’s doing a good job in pressure, a good job in the run for us, and being in the right place and helping other guys get lined up.”

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.