What do we know about Justin Jefferson’s huge contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings?

In a landmark deal that will see the wideout earning a staggering amount annually, the Vikings have given a clear sign of their intent for the coming season and beyond. Of course, this is just the latest in a string of moves as the franchise attempts to build a roster that can compete.

Vikings and Justin Jefferson agree to huge contract extension

According to reports on Monday, superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a lucrative contract extension. It is understood that the 24-year-old former LSU star put pen to paper on a four-year contract extension worth an astounding $140 million with $110 million guaranteed. To be clear, the deal means that Jefferson is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. What’s more is that reports also indicated that Jefferson received $88.743 million at signing, which is the highest amount paid to a non-QB in football history.

Of course, one has to admit that Jefferson is worth every penny. the All-Pro pass catcher notched 1,400-yard in his rookie season and hasn’t looked back since. Indeed, widely considered the best in the business, Jefferson has been among the league’s top producers for the last few years and hasn’t slowed down. He’s been considered the NFL’s top wideout for a few years now and every statistic possible supports that conclusion. While it’s true that last year was somewhat slower, that was largely due to injury which resulted in him missing eight games. There was also the Achilles tear which quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered in October. In other words, were it not for those hang-ups it’s quite likely that Jefferson would have surpassed his 2022 campaign which saw him lead the league in both catches (128) and yards (1,809).

As for the Vikings themselves, it’s going to be an interesting offseason. For starters, Cousins joined the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason, and with that, J.J. McCarthy was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft to replace him. Sam Darnold was also picked up during free agency which will obviously bolster the defense. Yet, much of the spotlight is still going to fall on Jefferson who the team will be hoping can pick up where he left off. At $35 million in annual salary he did not come cheap and that’s before we touch on the effect his extension has had on the cap. Regardless, his numbers and accolades which include three Pro Bowl nominations and an Offensive Player of the Year award, can’t be questioned. Given his age and stage, we’re almost certainly talking about a future Hall of Famer i.e., it could be that the Vikings actually got a good deal.