Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks on during warmups before a wild card game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Justin Jefferson, Vikings to have contact talks this offseason

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 1/18/23

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is arguably the best wideout in the NFL. Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills may take exception to that statement, as would Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, but it's tough to deny that Jefferson has been a superstar for the Vikings since being drafted with the No. 22 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

He undoubtedly wants to be paid like a superstar as well, which is why it's not all that surprising to hear, per scoopster Adam Schefter, that Jefferson and the Vikings are expected to talk about a new contract this offseason.

The Vikings and Pro Bowl WR Justin Jefferson are expected to have contract talks this off-season, but as of today the two sides have not yet begun any negotiations, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 18, 2023

Jefferson is still playing off the four-year, $13.1 million contract he signed as a rookie, which means he's only making $2 million in base salary in 2023. With that said, there's a strong case that could be made that he really deserves to be making closer to the average annual salary of 28 million that Davante Adams is making with the Raiders, and at the very least the 24 million average annual salary Diggs is pulling down in Buffalo.

Getting a new deal done and actually getting paid makes sense from Jefferson's perspective. It also makes sense from Minnesota's perspective. The Vikings will want to lock him in long-term well before he hits free agency in the 2024 offseason, and they'll want to lock him in before his price tag gets even higher.

Jefferson caught 128 passes last season for Minnesota, turning those catches into 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns.

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