Minnesota Vikings Dedicated to Paying Justin Jefferson a ‘Market-Altering’ Contract Extension

Dalton Risner is finally back in purple, which means Minnesota Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s next order of business is to complete Justin Jefferson’s contract extension. It’s not like the Vikings haven’t tried to get their best player under contract past the 2024 season; they’ve been negotiating with Jefferson since last season.

Yet, agreeing on contract value for one of, if not the best, non-quarterbacks in football is no easy task.

The Vikings have to find a way to toe the line between making sure Jefferson is given a contract that accurately assesses his worth to the franchise; however, they also can’t go overboard and pay him so much that it hinders Minnesota’s ability to field a competitive roster. But the Vikings are confident in their ability to structure an extension that works fairly for both sides, the only questions are when will it happen, and how much will Jefferson sign for?

Minnesota Vikings may break records with Justin Jefferson contract

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings are “pretty motivated” to get the Jefferson contract done, and the final numbers could be staggering.

“This is going to be a market-altering deal when it does happen with Minnesota. I’m told the Vikings are pretty motivated here. They want to try to get something done, they’ve been in active discussions with Jefferson and his representation. So this could not only be making him the highest-paid wide receiver, but the highest-paid non-quarterback, potentially. Nick Bosa makes $34 million a year, we’ll see if he can get to that threshold, but this should get done at some point in the coming weeks and months this summer, that’s the Vikings goal, so they’re pretty dedicated to doing it.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler discussing Justin Jefferson extension on SportsCenter

Right now, Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown is the NFL’s highest-paid receiver, with a contract worth an average annual value of $32 million. Yet, based on Fowler’s reporting, it’s only a matter of time before Jefferson shatters that mark, likely coming in ahead of Nick Bosa’s $34 million per season.

With J.J. McCarthy ushering in a new era of Vikings football, having the NFL’s greatest receiver by his side will be paramount to the former Michigan star reaching his potential in the pros too.

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