Vikings Plan 2 Contract Extensions
In the quiet offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have made sure to retain as many contributors as possible, extending the contracts of several pending free agents, such as linebacker Eric Wilson. The long-term goal for the Vikings and all other franchises is to draft well and keep the players they develop around for most of their careers.
Seemingly, two players the franchise drafted and developed aren’t going anywhere. According to a report from ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Jordan Addison and Brian O’Neill are part of Minnesota’s future.
He wrote on Wednesday, “Brzezinski said last month that he envisioned the Vikings as a franchise that looks to ‘draft and develop and to retain our core, and supplement in free agency.’ That served as a reminder that teams don’t just use cap space on free agency, but also — and often more importantly — on signing their existing players to contract extensions. Right tackle Brian O’Neill and receiver Jordan Addison are among the upcoming deals the Vikings have budgeted for.”
Just because an operation is budgeting for a contract extension doesn’t guarantee it will happen. However, it strongly signals that the team is intending to do it.
The two Vikings are in different stages of their careers. Addison, drafted in 2023, is waiting for his first contract extension. Brian O’Neill, a 2018 pick, is aiming for one final payday. A contract extension for either one of them would secure them wearing purple beyond the 2026 campaign, which will be a contract year for the duo with University of Pittsburgh ties.
O’Neill has been a true franchise cornerstone, securing the right side of the offensive line for nearly a decade. The two-time Pro Bowler has arguably been the most consistent Vikings player in recent memory, rarely posting a bad game and definitely never playing a bad season.
He signed his five-year extension in 2021, but that deal is about to expire. As he’s just 30 years old, there should still be a few more years of solid play left in him. Not only would a new deal secure a prolonged Vikings stint, but it would also lower his salary cap hit.
Just like most contracts, O’Neill’s deal is backloaded, leading to big cap hits in 2024, 2025, and 2026. This year, he’s due to cost $23,115,657 against the salary cap, but most of that could be pushed into future years if the Vikings want to. It’s the one move the Vikings can save the most salary cap with.
Among right tackles, O’Neill is still handsomely paid, getting top 10 money at his position. His annual $18.5 million rank him 8th in the NFL, though he’s trailing top money-getters Tristan Wirfs and Penei Sewell by nearly $10 million.
A slight raise is realistic.
Addison, meanwhile, is in line for a significant pay bump, as he’s still on his rookie deal. That contract is set to expire after the season, though the Vikings have the option to pick up his fifth-year option to guarantee his employment through the 2027 season.
O’Neill has never gotten into trouble, but the story is different with Addison. A couple of car-related incidents in the summers of 2023 and 2024 put the league on notice and ultimately earned him a three-game suspension in 2025.
When he made headlines for the wrong reasons in January, it appeared as if he was running out of strikes, and folks thought his time in Minnesota was coming to an end. The charge has since been dismissed and the situation has calmed down a little. It is fair to say the leash isn’t particularly long for the young receiver.
On the field, Addison has been excellent in his three seasons in purple. He’s one of the smaller wideouts in football, but is still a master of securing contested catches, which has turned his highlight reel into one of the better ones in the NFL. Addison can be considered a deep threat that can do all kinds of things.
Last season, even after serving his suspension, his numbers dipped compared to previous years. The uneven quarterback play hurt him, as it did all receivers on the squad. Addison has 175 receptions for 2,396 yards and 22 touchdowns on his resume as Justin Jefferson’s sidekick. He just turned 24.
Receiver contracts have skyrocketed in recent years. Jakobi Meyers is making $20 million a year. Premier WR2s DeVonta Smith and Jameson Williams make around $25 million a year. Alec Pierce just signed for $28.5 million. None of the mentioned players is paid like a top-ten receiver, but an annual number in that $20-30 million range is realistic for Addison.
Addison will demand a reasonable paycheck. The Vikings can pick up his option and wait another year if they aren’t sure about his off-field behavior or his on-field production. Of course, with a big season, that could also backfire and they are on the hook for even more.
Perhaps defensive tackle Jalen Redmond could be in line for a long-term contract extension this offseason, but the two major extension items this year are O’Neill and Addison.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.