The bar continues to rise for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson‘s next contract — and if the Vikings don’t reach it, he could take his future into his own hands.
After Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown received a contract extension worth $30 million a year and Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown‘s deal surpassed $32 million a season this offseason, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis spoke to several agents who have negotiated top-of-the-market deals.
While the consensus is that Jefferson will reset the market, one agent said that Jefferson’s next contract could reach up to $36 million a year if he agrees to a five-year extension.
That deal would be worth upwards of $180 million, which would be the largest contract awarded to a non-quarterback ever.
Lewis warned of the potential “storm cloud” ahead: that Jefferson could determine his own future if the Vikings did not meet his contract demands.
“Both parties have levers to pull, too. The Vikings have the franchise tag, and Jefferson, who has never been one to cause controversy, is talented enough to dictate his future,” Lewis wrote.
“None of this is fun to type, much less consider, but this messiness is the storm cloud on the horizon.”
While pressure is building for a deal to get done, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said talks remain positive and that Jefferson is at the core of their plans.
