The Justin Jefferson Saga Is Finally Over (2024)

The Minnesota Vikings arrive at TCO Performance Center in Eagan on Monday for Mandatory Minicamp, the team’s first mandatory workout date after weeks of voluntary OTAs. Star wideout Justin Jefferson skipped those, but there is no reason to miss any practices in the future as he and the front office agreed to a new contract.

The Justin Jefferson Saga Is Finally Over

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It has been the major topic in Minnesota’s news cycle for months, and quite frankly, since last offseason. Justin Jefferson became eligible to sign a contract extension after three seasons in the league. The Vikings picked up his fifth-year option but hoped to sign him to a long-term contract. Those talks ended when the 2023 campaign began but resumed after the year. Halfway through the offseason, the two parties found an agreement.

Adam Schefter reported on X: “A record deal: the Vikings and three-time Pro-Bowl WR Justin Jefferson reached agreement on a four-year, $140 million contract extension that includes $110 million guaranteed and makes him not only the highest-paid WR in NFL history, but the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, sources tell ESPN. Jefferson’s deal includes $88.743 million due at signing, the highest non-QB guarantee at signing in NFL history. And it resets the WR market. WME Football negotiated and confirmed the deal.”

The agency and the receiver confirmed the deal, and the latter published a video in which he talked about fulfilling his lifelong dream.

Jefferson is the face of the franchise, and it was a no-brainer for the Vikings to make the deal, regardless of the absurd salary. The receiver will get an average of $35 million per season, exactly $3 million more than A.J. Brown, who had recently reset the WR market. Tyreek Hill and Amon-Ra St. Brown earn roughly $30 million. The previous top earner (outside of quarterbacks) was Nick Bosa, San Francisco’s star defender ($34 million per season).

Through the move, the 24-year-old is under contract for years and will build the foundation on offense with Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and J.J. McCarthy. If the rookie quarterback turns out to be a solid player, the sky is the limit for the offense with explosive weapons all over the field.

The former LSU standout has set the NFL record for receiving yards in a player’s first four seasons and broke franchise records for most receiving yards and receptions in a single season. Randy Moss and Cris Carter previously held those marks. In addition to that, he is the all-time leader for receiving yards per game.

Everyone involved—general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O’Connell, the franchise’s ownership, and the player—has always stated their desire to find a solution. While trade rumors surfaced weekly, those should now disappear once and for all.

The organization quoted O’Connell and Mark and Zygi Wilf in a post:

With Jefferson’s contract signed, the major offseason dominoes have fallen in Minnesota, and attention can turn to the remaining offseason workouts followed by training camps in July.

He is now under contract through 2028 and has the opportunity to do something many legendary wideouts fail to do: sticking with one team. Jefferson has never shown signs of the infamous “diva receiver” attitude, which is why he is a fan favorite and is unanimously beloved in Minnesota. He will be hunting more records in the upcoming 2024 season.

Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings:@JanikEckardt