Jared Allen’s Emphatic Endorsement for Vikings
Pay the man.
Jared Allen’s Emphatic Endorsement for Vikings
That’s the message from former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen to the organization about Justin Jefferson’s contract extension. The future Hall of Famer joined Kay Adams this week on The Up and Adams show and wasn’t shy about his Jefferson takes.
Adams floated the idea of Jefferson grabbing $40 million per season, and even at that astronomical figure, Allen didn’t back down. “Give it to him. He changes the game, he opens up the run game, he gives you the ability to score anytime, anywhere. He is a quarterback’s best friend, so if McCarthy is going to be your franchise QB, you cannot let him go,” Allen said Tuesday, with the NFL’s regular season 100 days away.
Jefferson is unlikely to grab $40 million annually, but his deal could check in around $35 million, which would make the 24-year-old the richest non-quarterback in NFL history.
Allen continued, “He becomes a centerpiece of your team. You have to protect him on the O-line. He has the ability to change games, and what that does to a defense — playing against the Megatrons of the world — you have to put two on him. So even if he has a game where he doesn’t have 200 yards, the fact that you have to assign two people to him all the time just makes it harder to play defense and easier to play offense.”
The comments from Allen are a change of pace from his previous musings about Vikings players’ paydays. Last October, right after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles, Allen urged the club not to re-sign the veteran passer for 2024. Allen told The Up & Adams Show seven months ago, “I mean, you blew your Achilles out at this point in your career. It’s a young man’s game. It’s going that way. I don’t know if you can invest that much more money it would take to keep him. I don’t think it has any bearing on his ability, but you’re gonna come off an injury.”
Adams clarified that Cousins was in the final year of his contract, and Allen continued, “Oh, you can’t pay him. It’s a no-brainer. You can’t pay him. Sorry Kirk, nothing personal, but I mean, as a fan, if I’m the GM, what are you gonna have to pay him? 25, 30 million a year? Sorry, the ride’s done.”
But Allen’s recommendation for Jefferson is totally different. The exact opposite, in fact.
On the when of Jefferson extension, well, that could bleed into the summer. Some have suggested that Jefferson and 2020 draft mate CeeDee Lamb are waiting for the other man to sign first. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said last week on SportsCenter, “CeeDee Lamb appears to be waiting on Justin Jefferson, really the whole league is waiting on him to get done. He could be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league when it’s all said and done for Minnesota.”
“So, if he’s making $34 million a year, and you’re Lamb, you don’t want to jump out yet you want to wait for him to do that and then circle back with Dallas,” Fowler added.
Left up to Allen, however, the timing is irrelevant. His endorsement is to pay Jefferson, hell or high water.
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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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