Justin JeffersonThe NFL’s best wide receiver will apparently have to wait another season for his payday.
He Minnesota Vikings They are not expected to sign the All-Pro to a contract extension before the season opener on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Both sides are expected to review contract negotiations after next season.
Jefferson led the NFL in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) last season, his third consecutive season exceeding 1,400 yards since debuting with the Vikings in 2020. No player in NFL history has recorded as many receiving yards in his first three seasons as a 24-year-old Jefferson.
This was the first offseason in which Jefferson was eligible for a contract extension, with other 2020 draft picks. joe burrow, Justin Herbert and Trevon Diggs we are already seeing big payments.
The Vikings have Jefferson under contract for one more year after this season, thanks to the obvious decision to exercise his fifth-year option. In theory, the team could keep him for another season or two after that on the franchise tag, but locking him up long-term won’t be cheap.
Jefferson is expected to get a deal larger than the four-year, $120 million contract. Hill Tyreek landed with him Miami Dolphins, the previous highest mark among wide receiver contracts. Not only do NFL salaries continue to grow, but Jefferson is four years younger than Hill was when the speedster signed that deal, with nearly 1,500 more yards than Hill recorded in the three years prior to his deal.
Another All-Pro season from Jefferson would only drive the price up for the Vikings, but the team still has several years to figure this out.