Vikings Playmaker Is Rewriting His Story in Real Time
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is developing on the fly, and lo and behold, wide receiver Jalen Nailor has morphed into one of his favorite targets.
A Vikings wide receiver is turning heads and changing perceptions this season, proving his growth and impact on the offense are no fluke as momentum builds.
McCarthy has showcased sweet and salty tendencies through four starts, with Nailor providing much of the “sweet” and allowing the speedster to rewrite his story before his contract expires in mere months.
Jalen Nailor Emerges as Real WR3 for Vikings
It’s a narrative arc of the best kind.
The Numbers Are There for Nailor
Nailor tabulated 6 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown last weekend during his team’s unfortunate loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, the aforementioned McCarthy has reassumed the role of QB1 after missing five games due to a high ankle sprain. Since McCarthy’s return in Week 9, he and Nailor have forged chemistry, allowing Nailor to look the part of a bonafide WR3.
With McCarthy in the lineup — so, four games thus far in 2025 — Nailor would be on a 17-game pace for about 850 receiving yards. Nailor did not flourish with Carson Wentz, who took over for McCarthy in September and October, but McCarthy + Nailor has something brewing.
All told, Nailor 19 catches for 302 yards and 2 touchdowns at the midseason mark.
Contract Extension for Nailor Looks Totally Different at 2025 Halfway Point
At any time in the last nine months — so since the beginning of the 2025 offseason — a Nailor contract extension never really felt imminent, vital, or prioritized. The guy had performed decently when healthy since 2022, but his numbers resembled those of a high-end WR4, not a WR3.
Now, through nine games of 2025, that assessment has changed.
The coaching staff habitually pounds the table for Nailor and has done so for three years. The guy has turned the corner. And he might fetch a second contract from the team that drafted him.
Keep the Guys Who Help the QB Cook
As McCarthy matures on the fly, with inconsistency present through four starts, it might feel criminal to cut bait with one of his favorite targets.
During the summer, McCarthy built intense rapport at training camp and the preseason with Jordan Addison, mainly because Justin Jefferson skipped all summer activities. Nailor felt like a consolation asset, even battling drops at training camp.
All that’s changed. Nailor has become dependable, electric, and essential.. So long as McCarthy is the quarterback, Nailor must be at the forefront of the team’s offseason plan. Can’t drop the guy the moment he gets good.
Probably Affordable, Too
In all likelihood, Nailor’s next contract will probably tip the scales between $6 million and $11 million per season. Closer to $11 million can be the target if his Week 10 showing against the Ravens becomes the norm.
If that production turns out to be a one-game outlier, albeit sweet, his next deal should be for three years and around $20 million,
No matter what, the man called Speedy won’t break the bank, increasing the chances of a reunion contract in Minnesota.
Janik Eckardt on Nailor
Our own Janik Eckardt provided Nailor thoughts this week: “Nailor’s season has been fascinating to say the least. He entered training camp as the WR3 behind obvious starters Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. In joint practices, he suffered a hand injury, and his status for Week 1 was in jeopardy. That’s when the Vikings pulled the trigger to acquire Adam Thielen.”
“Suddenly, there was competition for the man who expected to slide into the WR2 role with Addison’s looming early-season suspension. Nailor returned in time for the season opener and played more snaps than Thielen. Since then, he has defended his spot in the lineup. And he picked a great time to stack decent seasons, with his pending free agency scheduled for next offseason.”
Nailor and the Vikings are favored to win this weekend over the Chicago Bears by three or four points.
“In March, the Vikings will have to decide whether they should make an offer to keep their 2022 sixth-rounder in the building. Some other team could see him perform well and hand him a deal. Every team needs pass-catchers, and someone might want to take a look at the speedster out of Michigan State. He’s certainly not a first option, but he’s without a doubt a solid WR3, and might even have the talent to be more than that,” Eckardt added.
“With Jefferson already getting the bag and Addison potentially following in a year or two, there might not be room in the budget for Nailor. Most Vikings are signed through the next season, but Nailor is among the few who are not.”
Nailor will turn 27 right before the start of 2026 free agency. The Vikings are underwater (in a bad way) via the 2026 salary cap to the tune of $37 million as of November 12th.
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