3 Vikings in Line for Contract Extensions This Offseason
The Minnesota Vikings have a number of big decisions to make this offseason.
Some of those decisions revolve around whether or not to retain their 28 free agents by offering new contracts this spring. However, some others involve decisions to offer extensions to players currently under contract in order to retain them for multiple years down the road. Here is a look at three Vikings players who should get extensions during the offseason.
WR Justin Jefferson
This is the no-brainer. Obviously, Justin Jefferson is the engine that makes the Vikings offense go. He has quickly become one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL, and more importantly, one of the best players in the history of the Vikings franchise.
Over his first four seasons, Jefferson has completely re-written both Vikings and NFL record books by putting together historic receiving numbers. The Vikings should have him at the very top of their priority list to ensure that he is in a purple jersey for years to come. Luckily, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made it clear that he is having continued discussions about the extension, and it should get done this spring.
S Camryn Bynum
After being selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Camryn Bynum took over a starting role in 2022. However, the second-year safety seemed a bit in over his head in this role, and he struggled a bit in coverage. PFF graded him at just 50.9 in coverage during the 2022 season, which ranked 57th among 66 safeties with at least 400 snaps.
However, Bynum’s career was completely revived in Brian Flores’ defense this past season. The safety had a tremendous 2023 campaign, and he was a huge reason for Minnesota’s defensive success. PFF graded him at 69.7 in coverage, which ranked 21st among 50 safeties with at least 400 coverage snaps.
Especially with Harrison Smith approaching the end of his career, and Bynum only having one year left on his contract, the Vikings should be thinking about the future of their safety position. Lewis Cine has not lived up to the hype as a first-round pick to this point, and while that could still change, Bynum seems like a surefire option to continue being a successful player in Flores’ defense.
CB Byron Murphy
Byron Murphy signed a two-year contract worth $17.5 million with the Vikings last spring to help revitalize Minnesota’s secondary. While he certainly had some up-and-down performances, there was more good from Murphy than bad during 2023.
Murphy missed the final three games of the regular season for the Vikings, and those three weeks made it abundantly clear that Minnesota needs him in their defense to be successful. Minnesota allowed 30+ points in each of those three games and gave up an average of 283.3 passing yards per game.
The cornerback is set to hit the final year of his contract this season. Seeing as he is still only 26 years old, the Vikings should consider offering him a contract extension to retain him as a veteran presence in their locker room. Seeing as Minnesota added three void years to his deal last year, they gave themselves a great chance to do exactly that.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap, Pro Football Focus, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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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.