The Minnesota Vikings have completed many of the tasks on their offseason checklist. This includes finding their potential future quarterback in J.J. McCarthy. But McCarthy’s planned top target, Justin Jefferson, is still a major unresolved issue.
Jefferson is on track to play out his first-year contract on his fifth-year option.
There have been few indications that a deal will be made in the meantime. But ESPN’s Dan Graziano is advising “patience.”
“Interesting that right before the draft, a couple of deals went down – A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown – that might establish the bottom of the wide receiver extension market,” Graziano said on “NFL Live” on May 10. “But Jefferson is the pinnacle. His deal will exceed them all, and is likely to compete with Nick Bosa as the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. So that deal will take time.
“I would urge caution on the Justin Jefferson deal.”
Jefferson, 24, is already a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. His most recent 1,000-yard effort came in just 10 games, half of which came without Kirk Cousins under center.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has expressed optimism about the ongoing discussions between the two sides.
But not everyone believes Adofo-Mensah is doing enough.
“Before the draft, the situation for the Vikings and star receiver Justin Jefferson was simple. Pay him, or trade him to someone who will,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on April 29. “Now that the trade window has closed (for now), the Vikings need to pay him.
“The price NEVER goes down. Whatever it would have been last September, when Jefferson supposedly rejected $30 million per year, it will be higher now. And it will keep going up.
“Stop the bleeding. Start the typing. Make it happen.”
Other Factors Potential Influencing Vikings’ Contract Negotiations With Justin Jefferson
GettyGeneral manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Brown to a three-year, $96 million contract extension on April 25. That was one day after St. Brown received a four-year, $120 million extension from the Detroit Lions, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in annual value.
Jefferson has long been forecasted to change the standard for his position. And former Vikings’ general manager Jeff Diamond predicted Bosa’s five-year, $170 million pact as a benchmark.
The Vikings could also be playing a part in the ongoing delay of what seems inevitable.
“There’s a number of reasons to believe it could take time,” Graziano said. “Obviously, it could happen at any minute. But there’s a number of reasons to think it might take until closer to the season. The Vikings have a policy with their signing bonuses where July 31 is kind of a key date, and they might want to wait until after that.”
Notably, June 1 is also a key date for several players who are potential candidates to have their contracts restructured or even cut.
Among the most notable are quarterbacks Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall.
Insider Points to Joe Burrow, Nick Bosa in Justin Jefferson Contract Talks
GettyJoe Burrow, wearing #9 for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Nick Bosa, wearing #97 for the San Francisco 49ers.
It's likely that Jefferson's agents at CAA will push for the highest possible salary in talks. Jefferson desires a substantial payday and has a strong enough history to warrant it. His representatives have also conducted similar negotiations in recent times.
“You need to consider the agent. Brian Ayrault is the representative of Justin Jefferson,” Graziano mentioned. “Last year, he represented Joe Burrow and Nick Bosa. Burrow is now the highest-paid player in the league, while Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback. These contracts were finalized very close to the beginning of the regular season.”
Bosa's contract extension was finalized on September 8, two days before the start of the 2023 regular season. Burrow's five-year, $275 million extension with the Cincinnati Bengals occurred on September 9.
