The Justin Jefferson Mystery Subsides
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson will soon obtain a behemoth contract extension, but even as the agreement hasn’t been reached, all is well with the world regarding Jefferson and his employer.
Vikings mandatory minicamp began Tuesday, and Jefferson was in attendance.
The Justin Jefferson Mystery Subsides
The Vikings social media team posted this to Twitter:
Minnesota picked up Jefferson’s fifth-year contractual option this offseason, so no matter what, Jefferson is guaranteed to be with the club through the end of the 2024 season. His contract extension will be reached long before that — and should fetch between $30 and $35 million — but he’s a Viking through and through.
And because the extension hasn’t come to fruition, many wondered if Jefferson would show up to minicamp at all, as the phenom playmaker skipped organized team activities (OTAs) in the last month. Well, the mystery has subsided, and Jefferson is the house.
Jefferson said about his absence from OTAs, “I had a lot of stuff going on. They didn’t really force me to come back too, too much. It didn’t seem like I was missing too, too much. They definitely wanted me back here, and I wanted to be back here but had a lot going on.”
Too, Jefferson hinted that missing OTAs wasn’t totally contract-related, “It’s not something that’s new towards the game. Eventually, we knew we were going to have to talk contract.”
He also stated, “The contract is going to come with the game.”
Jefferson’s teammate on defense, Danielle Hunter, was wholly absent from mandatory minicamp, and he is holding out for a new contract. It is unclear as of June 13th if Minnesota will afford Hunter an extension or trade the man on the open market.
Jefferson ranks tops in NFL history for receiving yards in a player’s first three seasons and holds Vikings single-season team records in receptions and receiving yards. The man has taken the franchise and NFL by storm. That’s why the contract extension fodder is such a no-brainer. He’s the face of the Minnesota Vikings — and a sports team’s Holy Grail — young, charismatic, and the best on the planet at his craft. The man even gnawed at single-season receiving yards records in 2022, just his third year in the league. So, the Vikings are absolutely steadfast and committed to keeping Jefferson glued to the franchise indefinitely. They’ve never wavered when asked about Jefferson’s upcoming contract extension.
Jefferson concluded, “I’m just blessed to be in that type of situation to have a lot on my plate.”
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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