Justin Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the NFL. And soon, the Vikings will be paying him like it.
The 24-year-old is absent from OTAs as he and team officials are in talks regarding his inevitable — and lucrative — contract extension.
In his first four seasons, Jefferson has posted 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 TDs in 60 healthy regular-season games. That's an average of 98 catches and1,485 yards per season. Consider: Hall of Famer Randy Moss had 308 catches and 5,396 yards total in his first four Vikings seasons.
There's no doubt Jefferson, who turns 25 in June, is an offseason priority for coach Kevin O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, especially as the team transitions at quarterback from veteran Kirk Cousins to rookie J.J. McCarthy, a cheaper franchise passer.
Here's what Jefferson has earned on his own rookie contract since 2020 — and what he could command in a contract extension.
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Justin Jefferson contract history
After Jefferson was selected No. 22 overall in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, he agreed to a four-year all-guaranteed rookie contract worth $13.12 million. He is set to earn $19.743 million in 2024 after the team picked up his fifth-year option.
His salary under his 2024 option would put him in the top 20 among wide receivers. But Jefferson should shoot up to the top of the charts with an extension.
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Justin Jefferson contract projection
Where will Jefferson's extension with the Vikings land among all NFL wide receivers?
A.J. Brown earns the highest annual wide receiver salary at $32 million per year thanks to his his recent extension with the Eagles. Brown also got the highest total guaranteed money for a wide receiver at $84 million.
Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams has the highest overall contract value at the position, with a deal worth $140 million over five years.
The most recent star wideout to receive an extension was the Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown, a prolific producer playing for an NFC North rival. St. Brown got four years for $120 million with $77 million guaranteed.
Although the Vikings did take a $28.2 million salary cap hit in 2024 for trading Jefferson's former QB, Kirk Cousins, they shouldn't be spending too much on that position over the next few years. McCarthy will get $21.85 million total over the next four years on his rookie contract.
Jefferson's camp should realize he won't be the highest-paid wide receiver for long, with his former LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase in line to break the bank with the Bengals next offseason.
Still, Jefferson should become the first wide receiver to average $35 million per season, just short of a 17% bump compared to St. Brown and a 9% bump compared to Brown.
St. Brown got 64% of his money guaranteed. Brown, who is taking three years on his deal, got up to 88% of his $96 million guaranteed.
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That points to Jefferson getting around $140 million over four years, which would take him through the duration of McCarthy's rookie contract (minus the option year). Jefferson also could earn up to the first three years of his average annual salary in guarantees, up to about $105 million.
While Jefferson shouldn't earn more than Chase, he should enjoy being the highest-paid wide receiver by every key salary metric for about a year.
The Vikings know Jefferson's worth and have both the money and desire to keep him locked in with McCarthy. Regardless of his absence at OTAs, it is likely Jefferson will get his deal before the end of the summer and highly unlikely the Vikings will disagree to the point of trading him.