We Now Know What the Vikings Will Pay Justin Jefferson in 2024
Janik Eckardt
|
The Vikings top priority in the offseason is the extension of wide receiver Justin Jefferson. He’s one of the best players in the league and currently one of the league’s brightest stars. Athletes like Jefferson fill stadiums, something the Vikings certainly want to keep on the team.
To keep first-round picks on their originally drafted teams, the league added a fifth-year option. Organizations can use the fifth-year option to control a player for an additional fifth season, as opposed to only four years for other draft picks. First-rounders are essentially under contract for five seasons.
We Now Know What the Vikings Will Pay Justin Jefferson in 2024
The massive extension Jefferson will sign, most likely in the 2023 offseason, will be difficult to handle for cap specialist Rob Brzezinski. However, by picking up Jefferson’s fifth-year option, the Vikings have him under control for an additional year and can spread the cap hits out, which should help facilitate the deal.
The NFL set the salaries for players that get their options exercised. Jefferson went to multiple Pro Bowls in the first three seasons of his career, so he would net the highest level of option and can make $19,743,000 in 2024. For comparison, Jalen Reagor, who was drafted ahead of Jefferson in 2020, could theoretically also see his option exercised. He would make the lowest of the four possible salary groups. If it were picked up, his salary would be $12,987,000. Of course, the Vikings will not pick up Reagor’s option.
The deadline for the option is the week after the 2023 draft, but picking up Jefferson’s option is a no-brainer. He and the team can then negotiate his next contract all offseason.
The start of Jefferson’s career is unparalleled. No player ever had more receiving yards in the first three seasons of his career. The wideout recorded 4,825 yards, 662 more than Randy Moss, who ranks second.
Despite only playing in three campaigns so far, Jefferson already ranks sixth in the first four seasons and needs 688 more yards to break that record, currently held by Saints receiver Michael Thomas.
In 2022, Jefferson became the first Vikings to lead the league in receiving yards when he recorded a franchise record of 1,809 yards. In addition, Jefferson set the franchise record for most receptions in a Vikings season with 128, also league-leading.
The wideout became the youngest player ever to be at the top of the league in both categories in the same season, breaking an 86-year-old record set by Don Hutson.
The young receiver is special because he’s racking up all those numbers while constantly facing double teams. Cornerbacks get safety help over the top on every play. Even then, quarterback Kirk Cousins often looks in his direction. The two formed a special connection over the years, and the Vikings should keep the duo together for as long as possible.
However, the front office might split them up, as spending top-market dollars for a passer and a receiver is rare. The salary cap leaves only so much room for other players to get paid, and team-building is extremely tough with two big numbers.
A quarterback on a rookie contract is the solution for many folks. Cousins is under contract for one more season, and even if it’s a long shot that the team will pull the trigger in 2023, the Vikings might start to look for his successor as soon as in the 2023 draft.
Keeping Jefferson happy is the top priority of the Vikings leadership. They have to keep him on the team for a long time. He is still in the race to win MVP and Offensive Player of the Year for his 2022 campaign, and he has every right to be the receiver that resets the market for players at his position. The current top salary belongs to Tyreek Hill, earning $30 million annually.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
You must be logged in to post a comment.