Vikings Gain Leverage in Upcoming Contract Extension Talks
So far, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t shown much of an appetite for paying a WR3. After all, K.J. Osborn walked away for a measly $4 million on a single-season deal.
One wonders if the trend will continue, especially due to the scant cap space in 2026. Jalen Nailor is the current WR3, but the Vikings gained some leverage in whatever contract talks could be occurring due to the addition of Tai Felton at No. 102 in the 2025 NFL Draft (see a broader discussion of the topic on VT). Does the plan involve leaning on Nailor for another season before allowing him to head elsewhere in 2026?
Vikings Gain Leverage in Jalen Nailor Talks
There’s a distinct downside to not extending Nailor: in all likelihood, saying goodbye to Mr. Nailor means that every single pick from the 2022 draft class failed to earn a second deal in Minnesota.
Ugly.
Already, the team has said goodbye to seven of the ten players from that draft haul. All who remain are linebacker Brian Asamoah, running back Ty Chandler, and receiver Jalen Nailor. Good chance, folks, that neither of Asamoah nor Chandler make the final roster. If they do, the chance of either securing another payday for ongoing employment beyond 2025 seems quite unlikely given their role, or lack thereof.
Bring things around to Nailor, someone who was a solid choice in the 6th but not an elite NFL talent. Losing him next offseason won’t be backbreaking.
If, however, there’s a desire to see the receiver stick around, then the Vikings have quite a bit of leverage. Already, high-end money is being spent on Justin Jefferson, the most dangerous receiver on the planet. Jordan Addison will be moving into his fourth season after getting snagged in the 1st and T.J. Hockenson will be marching through his beefy extension.
The top trio of options means that Nailor simply can’t be a top priority in the passing game, not unless he somehow goes ballistic in 2025, blowing expectations to smithereens in the process.
Assume something more realistic occurs: Jalen Nailor builds off a strong 2024, improving his statistics while proving to be a solid option for J.J. McCarthy. What do the Vikings do in that scenario?
Last season, Nailor had 42 targets go for 28 catches, 414 yards, and 6 touchdowns. The scoring efficiency is impressive. So, too, is the reality that 22 of those catches went for a first down. Most commonly, large tight ends like Hockenson are thought of as chain movers, but Nailor is no slouch in the area. The man can get open further down the field — his average catch went for 14.8 yards, just a bit below Jefferson’s 14.9 yards-per-catch average for first on the team — giving his team a fresh set of downs in the process.
According to PFF, Nailor offered an impressive 138.3 “passer rating when targeted,” suggesting that tossing the pigskin in his direction generally led to a positive outcome. Just consider the touchdowns and first downs as great examples of those outcomes. However, PFF also gave him a 59.3 grade, suggesting that his season wasn’t all sunshine and roses.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison aren’t going to be dislodged from their spots as the team’s top pair of receivers, meaning the battle exists after those two.
Jalen Nailor has the inside track to be the WR3 in 2025, but the Vikings don’t seem particularly likely to bring him back unless the price is super team-friendly. Tai Felton gives them a young guy to lean on and a free-agent addition like Rondale Moore functions as a good reminder that upside depth receives can be added in free agency for relatively cheap.
Don’t be surprised if Jalen Nailor ends up being traded away. A trio of players from 2022 — Ed Ingram, Vederian Lowe, and Andrew Booth Jr. — have already been shipped out. A Nailor deal would push the total to four before any of those players hit the fourth year in their rookie contracts.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and Bluesky (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.