Vikings Decline Fifth-Year Option for WR Jalen Reagor in 2024
The deadline to accept fifth-year options for the first-round picks of the 2020 Draft has come and gone, and with no news surrounding Vikings WR Jalen Reagor, the silence suggests that Minnesota has opted to decline this option worth a total of $12.987 million.
The tracker on NFL.com also suggests that the Vikings will decline this option reading, “Minnesota is expected to decline Reagor’s option, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on May 2.”
This decision should not be much of a shock. Following his trade from Philadelphia to Minnesota, Reagor recorded just 8 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in 2022.
The Eagles’ selection of Reagor with the 21st overall pick in that 2020 Draft is notorious because he was taken one pick before the Vikings landed Justin Jefferson with the 22nd pick in that draft as a result of their trade sending Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills.
Over the course of his career, Reagor has recorded a total of 72 receptions, 799 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Jefferson recorded 58 receptions, 808 yards, and 4 touchdowns just in the Vikings final eight games of the 2022 regular season. Minnesota announced it was accepting Jefferson’s fifth-year option back on April 25th.
The decline of Reagor’s fifth-year option means that the wide receiver will enter free agency at the conclusion of the 2023 season unless he and the Vikings can come to an agreement on a new contract prior to then. In fact, it may be safe to suggest his roster spot for the 2023 season could be in jeopardy following the addition of Jordan Addison in the draft.
Addison is presumed to take over the WR2 role in Minnesota, pushing Reagor further down the depth chart, and he is also a capable punt returner, returning 18 punts for 219 yards over the course of his collegiate career split between Pittsburgh and USC.
This punt return job was where Reagor saw most of his impact in 2022 as he returned 26 punts for a total of 167 yards (6.4 yards per return) during the regular season. However, this production was a step back from 2021 when he recorded 33 punt returns for 227 yards. During his rookie season in 2020, he also recorded a 73-yard punt return touchdown.
If the two sides do not reach a deal, Reagor will join K.J. Osborn on the free agency market (assuming Osborn doesn’t get an extension, either). Regardless, it should be of no surprise that the Vikings would not pay their WR4/5 (depending on where you slot in Jalen Nailor) nearly $13 million.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.