The Minnesota Vikings and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson have agreed on a four-year, $140 million deal extension, with $110 million guaranteed, according to sources. The contract makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
WME Football brokered the agreement, which includes an initial signing fee of $88.743 million. The Vikings announced Monday morning that Jefferson has agreed to a contract extension through the 2028 season, but no financial specifics were disclosed.
“The moment has finally arrived. In an Instagram video, Jefferson remarked, “The deal I’ve been waiting for since I was a little kid.” “I’ve been questioned my whole career. Not being heavily recruited. Not being the first receiver off the draft board. This was not an easy path for me. Being allowed to play football at the top level is a blessing. “It is an honor.”
According to Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf, Jefferson “earned this contract, and we are thrilled he will remain a Minnesota Viking for a very long time.”
“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,” Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “He is the living embodiment of our culture, with his cheerful commitment to the process and our objectives. We couldn’t be happier for Justin and his family.
In the post, Jefferson thanked his parents, siblings, agent, front office personnel, coaches, and Vikings fans.
“You guys set the tone. You’ve set the mood. “Y’all set the energy,” Jefferson said in the video. “And I’m quite thrilled to maintain the momentum for another five years… This is only the beginning; we’re not done yet. “Just wait.”
The day before the 2023 season began, Jefferson refused a contract offer from the Vikings that would have earned him more than $28 million per year. The three-time Pro Bowler instead gambled on himself, and it paid out handsomely, with Jefferson’s four-year agreement worth $35 million each season. Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers, a pass rusher, previously held the non-quarterback record with an average yearly worth of $1 million more.
Multiple clubs expressed interest in Jefferson this summer, according to league sources. But the Vikings informed each of them that they had no intention of selling Jefferson, who is off to a remarkable four-year start in the NFL.
At the NFL scouting combine in February, Adofo-Mensah said that a Jefferson deal had never entered his mind, even if it would allow him to move up for a quarterback in the draft.
“We believe he’s the best wide receiver in the league and should be compensated accordingly,” Adofo-Mensah said at the time. “We think he’s one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league and think he should be compensated as such.”
Jefferson has 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns since the Vikings picked him as the 22nd overall choice in the 2020 NFL draft.
Jefferson, the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, has averaged 98.3 receiving yards per game, the most in NFL history over any career duration, and 6.5 receptions per game, the second-best among receivers in his first four seasons.
“Justin is an exceptionally talented player and an incredible person who I am proud to coach and captain,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement. “His positive attitude and enthusiasm for the game shine through every day as he strives to be the greatest at his job. As coaches, we will do our share to help him maximize his abilities. I’m appreciative to the Wilfs, Kwesi, (Vikings senior vice president of football operations) Rob Brzezinski, and our team for assuring that one of the brightest lights in professional sports may continue his career as a Minnesota Viking.”
Jefferson, who turns 25 later this month, will now head the Vikings’ next generation of offense after the team replaced quarterback Kirk Cousins with free agency Sam Darnold and first-round draft selection J.J. McCarthy this summer.
Jefferson has regularly praised Cousins’ return over the last year, but he has never said that it would influence his decision to re-sign with the Vikings. He has not spoken publicly about Cousins’ departure or the choice to acquire Darnold and McCarthy. However, McCarthy said that Jefferson, also known as “JJ,” contacted him immediately after the selection.
Jefferson established an NFL record for most receiving yards in the first three seasons of a career (4,825) before surpassing 1,000 yards in 2023 despite missing seven games (and portions of two others) due to injury. His 1,074 yards in 2023 were the most by any NFL player who had played 10 or fewer games in a season.
Jefferson was the fifth receiver chosen in the 2020 draft and a timely replacement for Stefon Diggs, who was dealt to the Buffalo Bills a month before. Some clubs allegedly thought Jefferson would be restricted to a slot role, but the Vikings saw him as an all-purpose receiver when they drafted him at No. 22 overall.
In an in-house video that rapidly went viral, then-GM Rick Spielman was shown chuckling after the Philadelphia Eagles selected receiver Jalen Reagor at No. 21, paving the way for the Vikings to choose Jefferson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Justin Jefferson’s new contract?
Jefferson agreed to a four-year contract for $140 million, including $110 million in guarantees, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It makes him not just the best-paid receiver in the NFL, but also the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league’s history.
How long is Justin Jefferson’s contract?
The Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson agreed to a contract extension on Monday, making Jefferson the highest-paid wide receiver and non-quarterback in NFL history. According to the earliest word on the transaction, the contract is for four years and $140 million, with $110 million guaranteed.
