After more than a year of negotiations and backs-and-forths, the Minnesota Vikings have managed to lock their superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson to an extension. All that was needed to do so was for the Vikings to give Jefferson a historic contract.
Reportedly, Jefferson received a four-year, $140 million contract that comes with a $110 million guaranteed and a $88.743 million signing bonus. His average yearly salary of $35 million makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the NFL. The previous record was held by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, who is making $34 million annually.
The Vikings confirmed Jefferson’s extension but didn’t disclose the details of the agreement.
“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,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “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.”
After the news became official, Jefferson shared a video on Instagram in which he thanked his family, agents, Vikings’ organization, and fans.
Justin Jefferson established himself as arguably the best receiver in the NFL since being drafted with the 22nd overall pick in 2020. In four seasons as a pro, Jefferson made 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns. His 98.3 yards per game are currently the NFL record.
Jefferson is coming off an injury-riddled season that saw him being limited to 10 games. He still managed to 68 catches for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. No player in the history of the NFL had 1,074 receiving yards or more when playing 10 or fewer games.
