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

In a landmark deal that will see Justin Jefferson earn a staggering amount annually, the Minnesota Vikings have gave clear sign of their intent for the coming season and beyond by tying the wide receiver down to a bumper contract extension in June. One of a string of significant moves the franchise has made as it attempts to build a roster that can compete.

What is Justin Jefferson’s salary with the Vikings?

It was reported at the beginning of June that superstar wideout Jefferson and the Vikings had agreed to a lucrative contract extension. It is understood that the 25-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 upon signing, which is the highest amount paid to a non-QB in football history.

Why the Vikings are spending big on Jefferson

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 an 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).

What other moves have the Vikings made in the NFL offseason?

As for the Vikings themselves, it’s been an interesting offseason so far. For starters, Cousins joined the Atlanta Falcons in March, 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. It could be that the Vikings actually got themselves a bargain.