Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson makes history with a massive four-year contract
EAGAN, MN– It was this offseason that the Minnesota Vikings got rid of longtime veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Knowing they would be getting rid of the old guard, it was apparent that firecracker wide receiver Justin Jefferson would be getting a payday. It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when.
Then, it finally happened. The Vikings signed Jefferson to a monster four-year, $140 million deal with $110 million guaranteed. Jefferson has consistently been one of the NFL’s best receivers since his entrance into the league. Even with missing seven games last year, Jefferson was still able to cross the 1,000 yard mark with 1,074 joining WRs Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, A.J. Green, and Randy Moss as the only players in NFL history to have four straight seasons of 1,000 receiving yards to start their careers. The three-time Pro Bowler also set the NFL record for most receiving yards, 5,899, in a player’s first four seasons.
Drafted in 2020, Jefferson has been a nuisance to opposing defenses ever since. 2024 would’ve been the final year of Jefferson’s contract if the Vikings didn’t pick up Jefferson’s fifth-year option. The Vikings, not wanting to lose Jefferson to free agency and wanting to lock him up before his price tag gets even steeper, signed the three-time All-Pro earlier today.
“I would not be in this position if not for my family and their support,” Jefferson said. “I’m so thankful for them instilling a foundational gratitude and competitive fire within me. I’d like to thank the Wilf family, Kevin O’Connell, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the entire Vikings organization for believing in me and trusting me to help lead this team. To all my teammates and coaches from the very beginning as a kid in Louisiana, all the way to the NFL, thank you for always being there for me and pushing me. Lastly, to Vikings fans everywhere, you’ll continue to get my very best each and every day. SKOL!”
Jefferson’s deal includes over $88.74 million due at signing, severely frontloading his contract. The payday will make Jefferson the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history, a feat that seems to be one-upped every year, but nonetheless impressive. With the salary cap increasing $30 million this year and the wide receiver market climbing like GameStop, it was a no-brainer that this deal had to get done ASAP.
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Vikings’ general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had this in the cards for an elongated period of time, namely since last year, but the two sides were too far away on a deal. The two parties finally started closing in on a deal in the latest months and with the team getting rid of Kirk Cousins, it was due time for Jefferson to get his payday.
“We are elated to sign Justin and I want to thank him, his family, his representation, our staff, specifically Rob Brzezinski and Emily Badis, and the Wilf family for helping complete this monumental contract,” Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “From the moment I arrived in Minnesota, Justin has consistently proven to be one of the best players in the NFL on and off the field and we are excited about having him as a cornerstone of our team for a long time to come. He is the living embodiment of our culture with his joyful dedication to process and our goals. We couldn’t be more excited for Justin and his family.”
The former-LSU wide receiver has been nationally renowned for his talented route-running ability averaging 2.7 yards of separation in 2023 according to Next Gen Stats. In addition, Jefferson’s hands sit at the pinnacle of the NFL’s receiving kingdom catching 89.1% of on-target throws and a 5.2% drop rate on 101 targets according to Sports Info Solutions. It’s easy to see why Jefferson earned his payday– scoring 30 touchdowns over four years, marking him 12th over that time span. Jefferson has been top-15 in nearly every metric and it’s his consistency that has made him an invaluable asset to a team going through a monumental change.
Minnesota hopes that Jefferson can be a hardy tool for rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy as he gets his sea legs in the NFL. With a strong receiving core bastioned by a lack of drama from their star receiver now that he’s content with a huge paystub will certainly alleviate some of stressors being placed on McCarthy.
We listed Minnesota as the best landing spot for a rookie quarterback earlier this year under the assumption that Jefferson would be getting a big contract and would be staying in town for the foreseeable future. Minnesota will also carry a boatload of cap space into next season and beyond, giving them plenty of room for roster construction.
“Justin is an exceptionally talented player and an incredible person that I am honored to coach and have as a team captain,” Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “His positive energy and love for the game shows up every single day as he works to be the best at his craft. As coaches, we will do our part in helping him maximize his ability. I’m grateful to the Wilfs, Kwesi, Rob Brzezinski, and our staff for ensuring one of the brightest stars in professional sports will continue his career as a Minnesota Viking.”
