Talks on a new deal between Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings took place before the 2024 season. However, neither side came to a definitive conclusion. Undoubtedly, the Vikings will resume the negotiations again, but the 24-year-old wants a big raise.
Jefferson is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Despite an injury-laden 2023 season, he managed to eclipse 1000 receiving yards with 68 catches and five touchdowns. As a result, he is in line for a mega-contact extension. Not only that, but he could even become the highest-earning wide receiver in the NFL.
The LSU graduate has remained loyal to the Vikings. He will hope to continue with the franchise. But he also has an eye for a blockbuster deal that would ‘break the bank.’
This is what Justin Jefferson said:
I want to break the bank, and I want to be a part of an organization that wants me and really gives me what I deserve. I feel like eventually the Vikings will do what they need to do to have me in the building. Justin Jefferson via Sirius XM
The 2022 season was Jefferson’s best campaign in a Vikings jersey. He had 128 catches for 1,809 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. The amazing feats also earned him the Offensive Player of the Year award. So he does know where his value lies.
Can the Minnesota Vikings afford to pay Justin Jefferson?
The Minnesota Vikings will have difficulty providing what Jefferson hopes to earn. They will enter the offseason with a cap space of $24.6 million. On top of that, two key players, quarterback Kirk Cousins and linebacker Danielle Hunter will become free agents.
If the Vikings do decide to retain Cousins, then the cap space will reduce even further. The only way the Vikings can extend Jefferson’s stay in Minnesota is to try to trade for a quarterback or pick one from the upcoming draft. Justin Fields and Zach Wilson remain rumored names for the Vikings to trade for.
Jefferson expects to earn similar or more than Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who signed a four-year, $120 million contract. The Las Vegas Raiders gave Davante Adams a five-year, $140 million deal. Jefferson could bag as much as $160 million. However, it all depends on what the Vikings decide to do next.
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