The Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson has signed a four-year, $140M extension. Now remaining in Minnesota, Jefferson has become the highest paid non-quarterbacks player in the NFL, according to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
The standout receiver announced the news on his social media earlier today, confirming the new deal.
"The deal I have been waiting for since I was a little kid," Jefferson wrote.
The three-time Pro Bowler has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league, posting last season 1,074 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
He is one of five players with 5,000 receiving yards in his first four seasons.
His best season came in 2022 when he led the league in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) to earn the AP's Offensive Player of the Year award.
Now Justin Jefferson joins a group of elite receivers that signed new deals this offseason, including A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, and Jaylen Waddle.
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Re-Tooled Minneapolis
With Jefferson now keyed in for the long-term in Minneapolis, a significant concern among Vikings fans is how he would look next season considering the team's quarterback situation.
In the offseason, the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy with the 9th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, along with signing Sam Darnold prior to the draft.
Whoever wins the starting job will be needing the significant difference-maker in the passing game that Justin Jefferson is.
Based on Jefferson signing this deal, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Vikings are all-in on the former Michigan quarterback who led his team to winning a College Football National Championship last fall.
The Vikings are coming off the last few seasons with Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback. Cousins, though solid, couldn't lift Minnesota to the promised land.
Could the Vikings' future now be tied to the McCarthy-Jefferson tandem?
Jefferson's Deal Blows Up the WR Market
With Jefferson signing this new landmark deal, he is becoming one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.
It's likely he will reset the market for other wide receivers looking to get paid this offseason and the following one.
Ceedee Lamb is still negotiating a contract extension with the Cowboys and could be looking to sign a deal just as lofty as Jefferson's.
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