Justin Jefferson agreed to terms on a massive extension with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, signing a four-year, $140 million deal that includes $110 million in guaranteed money.
The extension means that Jefferson will be with the Vikings for the long haul, capping off a journey that began at the 2020 NFL Draft, when Minnesota selected Jefferson with the 22nd overall pick, which they had received from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for their then-current stud receiver Stefon Diggs.
The deal largely worked out for both teams, with Diggs providing an instant spark to the Bills’ offense and Jefferson developing into one of the best young receivers in the league for the Vikings.
One team the situation did not work out for: the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles held the 21st overall pick on that fateful draft night, and had the chance to take Jefferson. Instead, their eyes fell on another receiver: TCU’s Jalen Reagor.
In a now infamous video, the Vikings war room on draft night was seen clearly laughing at the Eagles as they passed on Jefferson in favor of Reagor.
Three years ago, the Vikings laughed at the Eagles for drafting Jalen Reagor.
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) April 19, 2023
With the next pick, they selected Justin Jefferson.
Since being drafted, Jefferson has caught 252 more passes than Reagor.
Has 4,026 more receiving yards than Reagor.
And has caught 21 more TD’s… pic.twitter.com/TB3ydImHM2
Minnesota submitted their draft card, and the rest was history.
No team is without a few notable draft blunders in their history. Fans of the nine teams that passed on Patrick Mahomes likely think about what could have been year after year after year. This is the one that stings the most for Eagles fans of the modern era.
Still, things worked out just fine for Philadelphia, who four years later, have a receiving corps led by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith locked in for the foreseeable future.
Time flies in the NFL.
