Well, I am going to continue to beat the drum until the Vikings and Justin Jefferson come to an agreement on a contract extension. Not the trade him drum but the how much and for how long drum.
I wanted to take a cursory look at how wide receivers performed after receiving a large extension.
Tyrell Hill signed a 4 yr 120M contract on March 23, 2022.
In 2022, he played 800 snaps, caught 119 passes for 1,710 yards with 7 TDs.
In 2023, he played 655 snaps, caught 119 passes for 1,799 yards with 13 TDs.
...
Davante Adams signed a 5 yr 140M contract on March 17, 2022.
In 2022, he played 1044 snaps, caught 103 passes for 1,144 yards with 8 TDs.
In 2023, he played 901 snaps, caught 100 passes for 1,516 yards with 14 TDs.
...
Amari Cooper signed a 5 yr 100M contract on March 16, 2020.
In 2020, he played 943 snaps, caught 92 passes for 1,114 yards with 5 TDs.
In 2021, he played 835 snaps, caught 68 passes for 865 yards with 8 TDs.
In 2022, he played 978 snaps, caught 78 passes for 1,160 yards with 9 TDs.
In 2023, he played 883 snaps, caught 72 passes for 1,250 yards with 5 TDs.
...
Cooper Kupp signed a 3 yr 80.1M contract on June 8, 2022.
In 2022, he played 530 snaps, caught 75 passes for 812 yards with 6 TDs.
In 2023, he played 710 snaps, caught 59 passes for 737 yards with 5 TDs.
...
DK Metcalf signed a 3 yr 72M contract on July 28, 2022.
In 2022, he played 893 snaps, caught 90 passes for 1,048 yards with 6 TDs.
In 2023, he played 785 snaps, caught 66 passes for 1,114 yards with 8 TDs.
...
Deebo Samuel signed a 3 yr 71.55M contract on July 31, 2022.
In 2022, he played 659 snaps, caught 56 passes for 632 yards with 2 TDs.
In 2023, he played 688 snaps, caught 60 passes for 892 yards with 7 TDs.
At first glance, it looks like the receivers continue to play at their same level and the stats that are less are due to missed games for injury.
There is no reason the believe that Justin Jefferson is going to start to decline in his level of play after signing a new deal. None.
By most intelligent accounts, any young QB needs to have very good receivers that can help him. JJ is exactly what JJM needs.
I do not think a trade is worth it but if they cannot come to an agreement then getting another young player with upside plus at least one first round pick is not bad.
I do not have any idea what the holdup is with the negotiations but I am wondering if Jefferson’s agent wants to include something whereby JJ gets some kind of bump if Jamaar Chase or Cee Dee Lamb get a larger deal. Not sure how that would even work but I imagine it is a non-starter with the Vikings. It could be that another receiver gets more than JJ a couple of years from now.
I would offer him a 3 yr 111M extension with a 30M signing bonus and a 15M option bonus in 2025.
I would guarantee all of it.
There would be two void years to spread out the bonuses.
He gets no change to his 2024 salary.
His salaries would be 19.743M, 17M, 22M, 27M
His cap hits would be 25.743M, 26M, 31M, 36M, 9M, 3M.
The Vikings currently have 16.5M in cap space so taking on an extra 6M for JJ’s extension in no problem
In 2025, the team has 68.7M in cap space so after subtracting 26M for JJ’s 2025 cap hit, they would still have 42.7M in cap space.
I think a 3 year deal gives JJ the chance to get another extension in 2028. It is high enough to not have to worry about extensions for Chase or Lamb coming in higher.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Minnesota Vikings officially sign Dalton Risner, waive rookie offensive lineman
The Minnesota Vikings officially announced the signing of guard Dalton Risner and waived center Matthew Cindric in a corresponding roster move.
Justin Jefferson Rumors: Vikings ‘Pretty Motivated’ in Active Contract Talks with WR
Appearing on Saturday’s SportsCenter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Vikings are “pretty motivated” to get a deal done with their superstar wide receiver that will likely reshape the non-quarterback market:
“This is going to be a market-altering deal when it does happen with Minnesota. I’m told the Vikings are pretty motivated here. They want to try to get something done, they’ve been in active discussions with Jefferson and his representation. So this could not only be making him the highest-paid wide receiver, but the highest-paid non-quarterback, potentially. Nick Bosa makes $34 million a year, we’ll see if he can get to that threshold, but this should get done at some point in the coming weeks and months this summer, that’s the Vikings goal, so they’re pretty dedicated to doing it.”
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported on Thursday it’s “possible” Jefferson could have a new deal done by next week.
One reason for the ongoing delay in finalizing an agreement could be the complicated structure that Jefferson’s deal might require.
Per The MMQB’s Albert Breer, the “starting point” for a Jefferson extension could require the Vikings to pay him $80 million in the first two new years and a total of $100 million over the next three years.
Vikings Trade Pitch Swaps Justin Jefferson for NFL Leader in Yards Per Catch
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report crafted a handful of proposals on Wednesday, May 29, exploring Jefferson’s trade market. Among the more interesting pitches involved the Pittsburgh Steelers and a package that included wideout George Pickens, a 2025 first-round pick and a third-rounder the following year.
“Pickens has promise as a No. 1 receiver, but he was 74th in true catch rate and 126th in win rate vs. man coverage, per Player Profiler,” Ballentine wrote. “Pickens is not a separator. He’s a contested-catch specialist who is at his best working vertical routes.”
Pickens made 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and 5 TDs last season, leading the league at 18.1 yards per catch. That production at his contract value plus two picks, including a first-round selection, could intrigue Minnesota if the franchise is hesitant to commit 14% of next year’s salary cap to one skill-position player in Jefferson.
Why is Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah criticized so heavily?
An interesting read but the reality is that criticism comes along with those fairly huge paychecks.
Josh McCown Goes from Ending a Vikings Season to Shaping Quarterbacks
Darnold explained his appreciation for reconnecting with McCown during a media session last week.
McCown said he and Darnold share a “relational equity for me to be able to challenge him” in hopes of expediting the curve as each learns Head Coach Kevin O’Connell’s system.
McCown and Darnold each have successes they can point to, as well as some scars that have lingered.
Those experiences — the good and bad ones — can potentially benefit the entire quarterbacks room.
“A lot of it is just what not to do with my playing career,” McCown said. “I’ve changed offenses every year of my football life, so the learning of those things, how to adapt to learning an offense, the tricks and traits of just downloading that information mentally. You can share those with how you how you go about a learning style and then just building routines.”
“ ‘Hey, I got this from when I played with this guy. I played with Kurt Warner this time, and Jake Delhomme showed me this and, and Jeff Blake showed me that.’ Different guys that I was around, older guys, that I pulled from and grew from, so all those things that kind of come up organically in our meetings that something happened, and I was, ‘Oh yeah, I remember playing with this guy. And I learned that from him.’ You just learn to really watch the veterans, and that’s why we’re so fortunate to have Sam and Nick — guys that have played. You watch those guys and how they operate.”
$11 Million Lineman Sends 1-Word Reaction to New Contract With Vikings
After the first session of OTAs, however, the Vikings and Dalton are reuniting on a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter on May 29.
Additional terms of the deal were not immediately available. But the move means all five starters from the league’s third-best pass-blocking unit and 10th-best run group, per Pro Football Focus, returns. Risner dropped a fitting one-word reaction to the news.
“SKOL!!!,” Risner posted on X on May 29, along with several eyeball emojis and a highlight reel of himself from last season.
This site is kind of funny and predictable with their story titles. Risner made 11M over his career and this site uses that figure to “lead” folks into clicking on their story.
Players reportedly standing out in a good way at Vikings OTAs
One of the players that has stood out so far has been new corner Shaq Griffin, who Coller noted “looks like he’s going to be a good fit.” Griffin was brought in this offseason to help a cornerback room that may be the weakest position group on the team.
“He might help [Byron] Murphy Jr. get into the slot more,” said Coller.
Another player of interest has been wide receiver Jalen Nailor. Coller said “you can always spot him by his speed.”
Vikings veteran feels like he can get back to his Pro Bowl form thanks to Minnesota’s defense
https://atozsports.com/minnesota/former-pro-bowler-planning-on-joining-vikings/
Picking a new home during free agency can be a tough decision. Most of the time, an NFL player is entering an important chapter in his career and where he ends up can have an impact on either side of the spectrum.
But, for Shaquill Griffin, it was an easy decision to join the Minnesota Vikings.
“Oh yea, oh yea, oh yea. It was something that we were talking about, especially me and my agent,” Griffin told reporters when asked if he “keyed in” on the Vikings back in February. “He dealt with all the financials and all that stuff. I focus more on scheme, so [it was] something that we talked about a lot...
“... I feel like it’s a perfect opportunity.”
“I feel like the main thing is, one, they accepted me, especially for my game,” said Griffin. “I feel like I’m crystal clear. So I feel like the scheme that they’re trying to hone in on this year - I feel like it’s perfect, you know, for the way I play. And they had to see that, first, before I even signed up, which is great...
“... Everything about this environment was perfect for me to get back to playing how I used to play.”
“I feel like the hardest part for me was probably last year, you know, bouncing off the back surgery,” said Griffin. “Being out for 5-6 months and kind of jumping right into it. This year, I have a full offseason. So, it’s been phenomenal. I feel like I’ve had no issues with the back, since then.
“Nothing has been stressful. I get a chance to really work my craft, come in really in shape for the season. Last year... they didn’t give me no time for nothing. So this year, I get a full offseason. So it feels a lot different.”
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