Vikings signing WR Justin Jefferson to four-year, $140 million contract extension

The Minnesota Vikings have signed Justin Jefferson to a four-year, $140 million contract extension that includes $110 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Monday, per sources.

Jefferson announced the news on social media, quelling any Minnesota worries by confirming he finally signed “the deal I have been waiting for since I was a little kid.” The Vikings soon after announced the news.

The massive extension of the three-time Pro Bowler not only redefines the wide receiver market but also establishes Jefferson as the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

Jefferson’s new deal puts an end to an offseason saga that grew wary with rumors while several wideouts were handed big contracts up until this point, including those of Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Miami’s Jaylen Waddle, Houston’s Nico Collins, Indianapolis’ Michael Pittman and Calvin Ridley, Tennessee’s free-agent splash.

With a new salary of $35 million per year, Jefferson tops Brown’s market-setting deal signed in April and surpasses San Francisco’s Nick Bosa as the league’s highest-paid non-QB in the league. Now under contract through the 2028 season, Jefferson also receives $89 million fully guaranteed at signing, Pelissero added.

Jefferson, a first-round pick in 2020, has since established himself as one of the league’s most thrilling playmakers. His historic performance numbers have proved him worthy of such a significant investment.

Jefferson has the distinction of being one of only five players in history to have amassed over 5,000 receiving yards in their first four seasons, as per NFL Research. His career yards stand at a staggering 5,899, almost 400 more than any other player in NFL history using the same criteria. Jefferson also holds the record for the most receiving yards per game in NFL history, with an average of 98.3 (given a minimum of 50 games). Furthermore, he has consistently improved this average each year for the past four seasons, recording 87.5, 95.1, 106.4, and 107.4 yards per game in 2023.

Jefferson’s 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 along with his first All-Pro honor. Adversity struck in the follow-up to Jefferson’s extraordinary year due to a hamstring injury in 2023, but he still managed to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in 10 games played.

With his payday in order, Jefferson will enter 2024 with a new quarterback following the offseason departure of Kirk Cousins, and either veteran Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy will be the next to benefit from Jefferson’s exceptional play.

Just as the Vikings are about to commence their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, Jefferson’s long-awaited extension arrives in time.