Justin Jefferson Agrees To $140 Million Contract Extension
All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson has agreed to a four-year, $140 million contract extension to remain with the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The deal makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL and includes $110 million in guaranteed money. The No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is arguably one of the best players in the league, regardless of position, and he has posted 392 receptions for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns through his first 60 games. At just 24 years old, he has been named to three Pro Bowls and three All-Pro squads. He also won the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award after posting 1,809 receiving yards. Jefferson is well on pace to become a future Hall of Famer, so hopefully, he can stay healthy after missing seven games last year. Although he's set to play with Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy at quarterback in 2024, he should remain at least a mid-range WR1 in fantasy football.
Vikings "Pretty Motivated" To Get Justin Jefferson Deal Finished
According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, speaking on ESPN's SportsCenter on Saturday morning, the Minnesota Vikings are "pretty motivated" to get a deal finalized with wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The 24-year-old has been a menace for opposing defenses since entering the league, amassing 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns. Understandably, he wants a lucrative extension, and while there hasn't been much movement on that front, it appears a deal could be reached in the "coming weeks," one that could be "market-altering." Although Jefferson no longer has Kirk Cousins slinging him the ball, the wideout should still be taken early in the first round in nearly every fantasy draft heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson was not spotted at the team's facility for the start of organized team activities on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jefferson and the Vikings have reportedly been in discussions regarding a new contract for the superstar pass-catcher, and it would not be a surprise if he does not report until he inks a new deal. The 2020 first-round pick has three seasons of at least 1,400 receiving yards on his resume already, and he posted 1,074 yards in just 10 games last season. The 24-year-old holds the NFL record for the most receiving yards per game (98.3), so a hefty payday should be coming soon. Stud wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and A.J. Brown signed deals this offseason that include an average salary of at least $30 million, and Jefferson is expected to become the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history when he reaches a new agreement. 2024 will mark the first season he won't be catching any passes from Kirk Cousins, but his 192-yard performance in Week 18 with Nick Mullens at the helm proves he is quarterback-proof.
Despite taking a brief pause in contract negotiations during NFL draft weekend, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team and wide receiver Justin Jefferson continue to make progress. "We continue to have great dialogue with their representatives," Adofo-Mensah said. "The process is still ongoing. We did say, 'Hey, [let's pause] a couple days.' The draft's coming. They have players they represent. We have our process." The two sides have been discussing a new deal for more than a year, with the GM saying previously they got "unbelievably close" to a deal last summer. Despite going on Injured Reserve in 2023 with a hamstring injury, Jefferson still went over 1,000 yards receiving and scored five touchdowns. Sooner than later, he's going to become the league's highest-paid wideout.
Justin Jefferson Doesn't Report For Voluntary Workouts
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that wide receiver Justin Jefferson did not report on Monday for Day 1 of voluntary workouts. The workouts this spring are voluntary, and Jefferson is angling for a new contract. It was a disappointing year for Jefferson in 2023 due to injury, as he played in a career-low 10 games. However, the three-time Pro Bowler still managed to go over 1,000 yards receiving for the fourth straight season to begin his NFL career, also adding five touchdowns. The 24-year-old remains one of the best wideouts, if not the best, in football when he's healthy. However, contract situation aside, his fantasy value for 2024 is inevitably going to take a hit after quarterback Kirk Cousins left in free agency to play for the Atlanta Falcons.
Vikings Still Not Interested In Trading Justin Jefferson
At the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah aggressively rejected the idea of trading star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The Vikings came close to extending Jefferson last offseason, and the team still has no plans to trade him despite quarterback Kirk Cousins' departure to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, according to sources. The 25-year-old pass-catcher is currently signed through the 2024 season. With Cousins gone, the Vikings signed former first-rounder Sam Darnold. Unless the team makes a splash in the upcoming NFL draft for a rookie signal-caller, all signs point to Darnold taking over the starting gig in Minnesota, which would give Jefferson far less upside as an elite WR1 for fantasy purposes.
Minnesota Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been the subject of social-media chatter lately as a potential trade candidate this offseason, but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the idea of trading Jefferson is "not something that has once crossed my mind." The speculation is coming this offseason because of the fact that the two sides haven't been able to work out a long-term extension yet. The 24-year-old made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the league before playing in a career-low 10 games in 2023 due to injury. But Jefferson still managed his fourth straight 1,000-yard season despite his injury. While he'll remain an elite WR1 in fantasy heading into drafts this fall, whether quarterback Kirk Cousins re-signs in free agency will be a major talking point as it relates to Jefferson this offseason.
Justin Jefferson Goes Out With Big Game In Week 18
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson absolutely dominated in the regular season finale on Sunday against the Detroit Lions in a 30-20 loss, catching 12 of his 14 targets for 192 yards and a touchdown. He also had one carry for a loss of 12 yards. It was a tough season for the 24-year-old and fantasy managers that took him in the first round, as he was only able to play in 10 games due to a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined from Weeks 6-12. Despite missing seven games, Jefferson still managed a 1,000-yard season with 68 receptions on 100 targets for five touchdowns. It was even more impressive that he did it with four different quarterbacks in 2023. Even with Kirk Cousins' future in Minnesota uncertain, Jefferson has proven that he's one of the best receivers, if not the best, in all of football.
Justin Jefferson Has Upside Amidst Another QB Change
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson returns to the WR1 tier for fantasy football after the team announced that quarterback Nick Mullens would return to the starting role against the Detroit Lions in Week 18. The 24-year-old looked solid in Mullens' previous two starts, totaling 13 catches, 225 yards, and one touchdown during that span. Mullens has the tendency to air the ball out and take risks, which bodes well for Jefferson's upside, even against a respected Lions defense. Fantasy managers should view the alpha wideout as a must-start option once against this week.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson posted his third straight week with 10 targets in Sunday night's dismal 33-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers, logging five receptions for 59 yards. Jefferson was dealt a tough hand in Week 17, with the Vikings electing for a midgame quarterback swap between Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens. It was more or less a microcosm of Jefferson's frustrating 2023 for both real-life and fantasy purposes, as the 24-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was well on his way to another ridiculous campaign before his midseason hamstring strain was later coupled with Kirk Cousins' (Achilles) season-ending injury. Fantasy managers who actually made it to the finals despite Jefferson's seven-game absence may have hardly benefitted from having him available anyway. Jefferson pulled in a 6/141/1 receiving line last Sunday against the Detroit Lions, who he will take on in Week 18.
