Report Suggests the Price Tag for Justin Jefferson’s Next Contract
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings have answered a number of questions this offseason through the free agency period.
We know that they will have a new starting quarterback, and their defense will have plenty of new faces leading the way. However, one question that has remained unanswered comes in regard to the team’s best player: Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson, set to enter the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, remains without a new contract extension to remain in Minnesota for the long-term. Many have wondered exactly what the best young receiver in football will garner with his next contract, but the latest reports may shed some light on what the Vikings are offering him to this point.
Latest Reports on Justin Jefferson’s Contract
Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press wrote of Jefferson’s potential price tag, “The Vikings drafting a QB will be very affordable for three years, allowing the team the anticipated $150 million deal for receiver Justin Jefferson.”
The contract that Walters lays out includes $75 million in guaranteed money and spans across five years. Certainly, this would result in a lot of money being tied up in the soon-to-be 25-year-old receiver, but as Walters points out, the Vikings very well could be in the market for a quarterback in the draft.
If that quarterback ends up being the starter in 2025, it will help counteract the money that Jefferson receives if he does sign a large deal to remain with the Vikings.
The Vikings’ front office and coaching staff has continuously stated that they want to keep Jefferson in a purple jersey for years to come. During the NFL Scouting Combine, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was emphatic that he trading Jefferson is “not something that’s once crossed [his] mind.”
Meanwhile, Kevin O’Connell has had similarly strong statements. Back in February, he went on PFT Live and stated, “Let me dissect it for you. We have had zero discussions, dialogue about that, either internally, externally, on this planet or another planet.”
Jefferson himself, who has stated that he wants his next contract to “break the bank” has also been very open to the idea of remaining in Minnesota for years to come. He said on radio row at the Super Bowl, “I definitely am grateful for what Minnesota has done for me. I definitely wouldn’t be in this situation if they didn’t pick me […] With everything that has happened, and everything I have gave to the organization, of course, I would want to stay, and that’s where I’ve been calling home ever since I got into the league.”
Overall, if it is indeed a five-year, $150 million contract for Jefferson, it should be viewed as a bargain for Minnesota. Davante Adams received a very similar deal with the Las Vegas Raiders back in 2022, inking a five-year deal worth $140 million with $65.7 million in guarantees.
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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.