Vikings agree to terms with 1st round pick Jefferson

Joe Johnson |

Jul 22, 2020

With training camp (of whatever we’ll call it in these crazy, crazy COVID times) on the horizon, it’s the time of the off-season where teams sign their draft picks. Despite this unorthodox off-season that hasn’t changed with the Vikings signing rookie QB Nate Stanley last week, for example. Now they’ve signed another rookie, one who will actually make an impact this season, wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Details of the contract aren’t entirely clear, but Jefferson will receive a fully guaranteed $13.122 million with a $7.1 million as a signing bonus. The deal was originally announced by ESPN via Twitter, because that’s how news works now.

The Vikings have agreed to terms with first-round WR Justin Jefferson, per source. He will receive a $7.1M signing bonus as part of his fully guaranteed rookie deal.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 22, 2020

Jefferson is expected to make an immediate impact, being drafted to replace and thanks to the first-round pick the team received by trading Stefon Diggs.

He had one of the best single seasons in the history of college football in 2019, running almost solely from the slot. He will be expected to transition to the outside as a Viking, something I am personally skeptical about but that some aren’t.

One of those people is NFL analyst Solomon Wilcots

“Well guys this is about the team, the scheme and the talent, The team is the Minnesota Vikings. The scheme is brought to you by Gary Kubiak and the talent is Justin Jefferson. I think he’s going to prove to everyone that he’s more than just a slot receiver. Remember, his high football IQ allowed him to excel in that role, playing with Joe Burrow at LSU. But now he moves to the outside. Here’s a guy who understands how to read coverages, he understands sight adjustments and how he has to alter his routes after the snap of the ball. I think he’s going to be targeted a ton and I think he’s going to pay off huge.”

With the money now figured out, it’s up to Jefferson to prove he was worth it.