In a historic move, the Minnesota Vikings have signed three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Justin Jefferson to the largest non-quarterback deal in NFL history.
Jefferson is widely considered to be the best receiver in the league, and it was expected that he’d ultimately sign a contract of this magnitude.
The four-year extension is for an eye-popping $140 million – $110 million of which is fully guaranteed and a whopping $88.743 million is due when ink meets paper.
Jefferson’s name had been swirling in the rumor mill lately with some insiders thinking that Minnesota would be open to trading him.
There’s no denying Jefferson’s talent and extreme value and importance. Having said that, there was speculation that the Vikings would be open to a deal if they were able to get a King’s ransom in return.
Besides accumulating valuable assets, Minnesota would have also avoided having to dish out this type of guaranteed money.
While there’s no downplaying just how special of a player Jefferson is, it’s far from ideal to commit so much of your salary cap to a wide receiver.
But in fairness, Jefferson is the furthest thing from your typical “wide receiver.”
Jefferson opted to turn down a previous extension offer which would have seen him earn over $28 million annually.
He bet on himself – and won.
Jefferson will be turning 25-years-old on June 16th. In other words, he’s yet to even reach his prime.
If he can stay healthy, it’s hard to see this deal blowing up in Minnesota’s face. Especially since the salary cap tends to increase year after year.
With his new extension, Jefferson’s average annual salary will be $35 million. This figure surpasses the previous record for a non-quarterback which was held by San Francisco Pro-Bowl pass-rusher Nick Bosa.
Jefferson impact on the NFL was immediate since he was drafted 22nd overall (!!!) by the Vikings in 2020.
In his young career, he has hauled in an impressive 392 receptions for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns.
He was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and holds a remarkable average of 98.3 receiving yards per game – the highest mark in NFL history.
Additionally, his average of 6.5 catches per game ranks as the second highest for any receiver in their first four seasons.
Minnesota’s front office has been very outspoken about just how much they value Jefferson.
With this new record-breaking extension agreed to, it’s safe to say that Jefferson will enter the 2024 season a happy camper in Minnesota.
Having said that, it will be interesting to see how he performs without Kirk Cousins.
The starting quarterback figures to be the winner of the Sam Darnold vs. J.J. McCarthy competition.
Although everything seems peachy right now, the question still has to be asked: Will Minnesota STILL be open to trading Jefferson if they can get enough in return?
While it now seems very unlikely, crazier things have happened…
What are your thoughts on Jefferson’s historic extension?
Do you think he’s worth those type of figures?
Is he indeed the best wide receiver in the league?
Most importantly, do you think there’s ANY chance Minnesota trades him before the deal end???