Vikings Rumors: Justin Jefferson extension is much from a positive factor
The Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson might be farther from an extension than initially anticipated.
The Minnesota Vikings started offseason exercises with a conspicuous absentee: Justin Jefferson.
The star wideout has emerged as the most effective gamers at his place. He led the NFL in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) final season. He reached pay grime eight occasions and was the favourite goal of Professional Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Now, he’s in search of a brand new contract. And there’s each motive to consider Minnesota needs to offer him one. Disagreements over the quantity of assured cash, nevertheless, might trigger these talks to stall.
The Vikings and Justin Jefferson are at an deadlock in contract negotiations
According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, the Vikings historically favor to construction their contracts with harm ensures that don’t turn into totally assured till the yr the cash is due. The attraction, from a entrance workplace perspective, is apparent: it provides them a means out if the participant will get damage.
Final season, nevertheless, the group disregarded custom and gave Kirk Cousins an enormous contract with none such language. Can Minnesota abdomen the identical threat for Jefferson, who is anticipated to rival Tyreek Hill’s annual common of $30 million to doubtlessly turn into the highest-paid broad receiver in soccer?
As one supply instructed Florio: “We’ll see.”
That’s an ominous response, and it most likely doesn’t instill a lot confidence within the Vikings fandom. Clearly Jefferson deserves to receives a commission, and one has to think about one other crew will swoop in with an enormous provide if the Vikings and Jefferson can’t conform to phrases.
Jefferson is due $19.7 million in 2024 earlier than hitting free company. He needs to renegotiate and prolong his deal earlier than then, however the Vikings is perhaps prepared to attend it out. Jefferson has earned the respect of the franchise — and albeit, not paying the controversial finest receiver in soccer can be fully bonkers — however with Jefferson underneath contract, Minnesota holds all of the playing cards.
We now have seen prolonged contract disputes flip into sudden agreements and big contracts earlier than: simply take a look at Lamar Jackson and Baltimore. The Vikings will play exhausting ball, but it surely’s exhausting to think about them not finally forking over a historic contract to Jefferson. Cousins most likely doesn’t earn his mega-deal with out Jefferson there to catch his passes.
