The Minnesota Vikings officially reset the market for wide receivers yesterday when they casually dished out a four-year, $140 million extension to three-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson.
The deal includes a whopping $110 million guaranteed and officially made Jefferson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Considering where the league is headed and the fact that the salary cap continues to go up and up, it’s safe to say that Jefferson is worth every penny of that historic deal.
Of course, whenever a player signs a deal that lucrative it causes a major ripple effect throughout the league.
Suddenly, every receiver who feels they’re anywhere near Jefferson’s league as a player wants a new deal.
Dallas Cowboys All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb is certainly in that group.
As a matter of fact, he will reportedly skip Dallas’ entire mandatory minicamp this week as a form of protest.
He wants an extension similar to Jefferson’s – if not even richer. (And he may just get it.)
Another elite receiver who is seeking a new and improved deal is Miami Dolphins All-Pro Tyreek Hill.
At 30-years-old, Hill certainly has several years left at a high level.
However, the fact of the matter is he will soon be entering the backside of his prime and he’s looking to secure a monstrous deal while he’s still at the top of his game.
Jefferson isn’t the only top-level receiver who was taken care of this offseason.
Just recently, the Philadelphia Eagles signed A.J. Brown to a three-year, $96 million extension. While the Detroit Lions inked Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year, $120 million extension.
Now Hill is looking to join the club…
Appearing in an interview with Josh Moser, Hill’s world-famous agent – Drew Rosenhaus – shed light on the current status of negotiations.
“Let’s just say it’s safe to acknowledge that I’ve been in touch with [G.M.] Chris Grier and [senior V.P. of football & business administration] Brandon Shore of the Dolphins,” Rosenhaus said.
“I’ve shared with them how Tyreek feels. And I’ll also reiterate that Tyreek has said that he would love to finish his career here with the Dolphins.
“Without getting into any more specifics, the Dolphins know how we feel.”
Of course, the heart of the matter lies in Hill’s current contract, which is perceived as outdated in light of the recent market shifts.
Hill is slated to earn $19.765 million this season – a figure that now pales in comparison to the inflated salaries of his contemporaries.
The recent extension signed by Hill’s teammate, Jaylen Waddle, which amounts to $28.25 million annually, only underscores the growing tension that’s mounting between the two sides.
To his credit, Hill has promised not to become a headache.
“Being greedy ain’t gonna help the team,” he said today.
What do you think of Hill as a receiever?
Sure, he’s phenomenal right now. But how many more years does he have left at a truly elite level?
What type of contract do you think he’s deserving of?
Should the Dolphins break the bank for him???