A Look at Where Vikings’ Contracts Rank among Other NFL Stars: Offense
Over the past couple years, the Minnesota Vikings have handed out some contracts that, at the time, were massive and sometimes historic.
However, where exactly do those contracts rank now that many of them have been in place for a year or two at this point? Well, here is a look at exactly where many of Minnesota’s stars on offense rank in terms of average salary at their positions.
QB J.J. McCarthy
- Average Salary per Year: $5.46 million
- Contract Rank: 37th
Obviously, the Vikings have the luxury of saving a big chunk of money at the quarterback position since 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy is on a miniscule rookie deal compared to some of the other $50-60 million per year contracts being handed out on an annual basis now.
In fact, there are even a few backup quarterbacks averaging more money per year than McCarthy. As a result, the Vikings have been able to dish out some big deals at other positions, which we are about to see.
RB Aaron Jones
- Average Salary per Year: $10 million
- Contract Rank: 7th
Aaron Jones returned to Minnesota this offseason on a two-year deal worth $20 million in total. Giving a top-10 contract to a running back who will turn 31 years old in December could be risky, particularly given Jones’ injury history, but he played all 17 games for the Vikings last season. On the way, he totaled career highs in carries and rushing yards, though it did come at a career-low 4.5 yards per carry.
There is reason to be hopeful that Jones can continue to be productive for the Vikings, though. Minnesota revamped its offensive line with a couple major acquisitions (more on those in a bit), and they also signed Jordan Mason to be a bit of a buffer and hopefully ensure Jones can keep some tread on the tires when January arrives.
WR Justin Jefferson
- Average Salary per Year: $35 million
- Contract Rank: 2nd
When Justin Jefferson signed his four-year contract extension worth $14o million, his $35 million average salary was the highest for a non-QB in NFL history.
Flash forward just a little over a year later, and not only is he no longer the highest paid non-QB by average salary, but he isn’t even the highest paid wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase is now the highest paid receiver, averaging $40.25 million.
There are six non-quarterbacks making more money than Jefferson now, including his former teammate Danielle Hunter, who is making $35.6 million on his new contract with the Texans.
TE T.J. Hockenson
- Average Salary per Year: $16.5 million
- Contract Rank: 4th
Less than two years ago, T.J. Hockenson signed a historic contract, inking a four-year/$66 million deal to stay in Minnesota through the 2027 season. It was the largest deal for a tight end in NFL history in average salary and total guaranteed money.
Today, there are three tight ends with larger contracts than Hockenson’s: George Kittle, Trey McBride, and Travis Kelce. In the coming years, that contract likely will only move further down the ranks as players like Sam LaPorta, Tucker Kraft, and Mark Andrews get new deals.
LT Christian Darrisaw
- Average Salary per Year: $26 million
- Contract Rank: 4th
About a month after Justin Jefferson signed his new contract, the Vikings also finalized a new extension with Christian Darrisaw worth $104 million over four years. That contract won’t officially kick in until 2026 as Darrisaw is entering the fifth-year of his rookie deal.
Darrisaw missed the vast majority of the 2024 campaign after tearing his ACL and MCL in his left knee during Minnesota’s Week 8 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Injuries have been a bit of a problem for Darrisaw so far in his young career, but when healthy, it is undeniable that he is one of the best left tackles in the game.
LG Donovan Jackson
- Average Salary per Year: $4.29 million
- Contract Rank: 37th
The Vikings are hoping that they found their left guard of the future after selecting Donovan Jackson with the 24th overall pick in this spring’s draft.
If they have done that, it’ll be at a bargain bin price too, given how much the price for elite interior offensive linemen has risen over the past few years. The Vikings will hopefully get strong play out of the Ohio State product and not have to worry about paying him the big bucks until the 2030 season.
C Ryan Kelly
- Average Salary per Year: $9 million
- Contract Rank: 8th
Ryan Kelly was signed among a flurry of moves made by the Vikings at the start of free agency. The 34-year-old center is a bulldog in the middle of the offensive line, so two years at $18 million is hardly anything to get concerned about. He should improve Minnesota’s pass protection in the middle of the offensive line and help make the running game more efficient.
Kelly is entering his age-32 season, but there should be little concern that he has two years of starting caliber football left in him.
RG Will Fries
- Average Salary per Year: $17.54 million
- Contract Rank: 10th
One of the biggest splashes of Minnesota’s offseason involved bringing in Will Fries on a five-year deal worth $87.7 million. It’s the most money the Vikings have ever handed out to an interior offensive lineman, but for a player who has been elite at right guard, it’s a bit of a bargain.
After the dust settled this spring, and names like Trey Smith and Aaron Banks got deals this spring, Fries lands as the 10th-highest paid guard in the NFL. Fries did suffer a tibial fracture in 2024, so that likely bumped his price tag down a bit. However, if he is able to get back to the level of play he was at in Indianapolis before the injury, the Vikings may have landed a steal of a deal.
RT Brian O’Neill
- Average Salary per Year: $18.5 million
- Contract Rank: 19th
Brian O’Neill is one of the longest-tenured Vikings at this point after being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. There were certainly some growing pains early on in his career, but he quickly became a consistent starter at the right tackle position.
As a result, the Vikings rewarded O’Neill with a five-year deal worth $92.5 million in 2021. At the time, it gave O’Neill the sixth-highest average salary among offensive tackles, but now, he is just barely hanging onto a top-20 salary.
O’Neill suffered a partially torn Achilles at the end of the 2023 season, leaving some questions as to how good he could be moving forward. He answered those questions by starting all 17 games in 2024 and earning his second Pro Bowl selection and could be in line for a new contract soon.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap and Spotrac helped with this article.
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