Name: Vikings Reach Agreement With Jefferson on 4-year Extension to Give Him NFL's Richest Non-QB Contract
Uploaded: 2024-06-03T21:43:41.000Z
Description: MINNEAPOLIS—Justin Jefferson became the latest player to cash in on the league-wide push for elite pass catchers.

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

News

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Trump Announces National Garden of American Heroes Plans

Top Officer: Navy Funding Could Lapse by July

UK Health Secretary Quits Starmer’s Cabinet

Paul Greaney is an NTD news anchor and producer. Since joining the company in 2018, he has anchored the station’s flagship Evening News broadcast, launched the NTD Business show, and produced documentary reports on pointed issues. 

The highlight of Paul’s time in the field was his coverage of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Paul Greaney

Chinese Leader Hates It When ‘Human Rights’ Is Raised: Col. Grant Newsham on Trump’s China Visit

Man Convicted of $1 Billion Medicare Fraud in Florida

Retail Sales Rose for 3rd Straight Month in April

Former Spirit Airlines Workers Sue for Pay, Benefits

Bessent: China Needs Hormuz Strait Open More Than US

Victoria Friedman is a UK-based reporter covering a wide range of national stories.

Victoria Friedman

World News

Middle East

Israel–Hamas War

Netanyahu Considers Suing New York Times Over Column Alleging Rape of Palestinian Prisoners

Russia Unleashes Heaviest Wartime Drone Assault on Ukraine

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 14)

Kevin Hogan is an NTD News data reporter and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Kevin covers breaking news, as well as U.S. and global current events. He conveys the news through data visualizations and investigates pressing issues.

Kevin Hogan

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 11)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 5)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 4)

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

MINNEAPOLIS—Justin Jefferson became the latest player to cash in on the league-wide push for elite pass catchers.

Matching the historic start to his career, Jefferson will be paid—for now—like no one else at his position.

The Minnesota Vikings and their superstar wide receiver agreed Monday to a four-year extension, the richest contract in NFL history for a non-quarterback.

Jefferson will get $110 million guaranteed in the deal that's worth as much as $140 million, with more than $88 million due at signing.

“We ain’t stopping here," Jefferson posted on Instagram along with a video package of highlights and shout-outs in honor of the contract. “There’s more to be done.”

Jefferson, who has the most receiving yards in league history through a player's first four seasons, had entered the final year of his rookie deal. The two sides came “unbelievably close” to an extension last summer, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said earlier this spring.

Jefferson missed seven games last season with a hamstring injury and still reached 1,074 receiving yards. The 2022 AP NFL Offensive Player of the year was the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 draft out of LSU.

“Justin has consistently proven to be one of the best players in the NFL on and off the field and we are excited about having him as a cornerstone of our team for a long time to come," Adofo-Mensah said in a statement distributed by the Vikings. “He is the living embodiment of our culture with his joyful dedication to process and our goals."

Jefferson's annual average of $35 million per year on the new deal passed that of San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa ($34 million), whose contract extension before last season was negotiated by the same agency, William Morris Endeavor, that represents Jefferson.

The wide receiver market has been as hot as ever lately.

Jefferson became the eighth player at the position to get a new deal this offseason with an annual average value of at least $23 million, following A.J. Brown (Philadelphia), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit), Jaylen Waddle (Miami), DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia), Nico Collins (Houston), Michael Pittman Jr. (Indianapolis) and Calvin Ridley (Tennessee). There were only six others before this year with annual average values that large: Tyreek Hill (Miami), Davante Adams (Oakland), Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams), D.K. Metcalf (Seattle), Deebo Samuel (San Francisco) and Terry McLaurin (Washington).

There are currently 15 quarterbacks, according to salary data compiled by the Over The Cap website, with higher average annual values than Jefferson.

The timing of the extension for the Vikings couldn't be better—the day before their mandatory minicamp and slightly less than two months before the beginning of training camp.

With the departure of quarterback Kirk Cousins to Atlanta via free agency and the arrival of first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings can ensure the national champion from Michigan will be well-stocked with pass catchers as he develops, with wide receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson in place as prolific complements to Jefferson.

McCarthy will be on a rookie contract for the next four or five seasons, making it much easier for the Vikings to keep premium players around him at other positions as they try to compete in an NFC North that's suddenly loaded with young talent and promising futures.

“To all my teammates and coaches from the very beginning as a kid in Louisiana, all the way to the NFL, thank you for always being there for me and pushing me,” Jefferson said. "Lastly, to Vikings fans everywhere, you’ll continue to get my very best each and every day. Skol!”

Latest

FOOTBALL

Videos

Sports News

Latest Clips

ESPN

Dave Martin is NTD's Senior Sports Reporter and sports analyst. He also hosts "Data Hub" segments during NTD's special election coverage, "The Nation Decides."

Dave Martin

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.