Ex-NFL coach raises red flags on a Justin Jefferson extension

Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Former NFL coach believes a Justin Jefferson extension would sabotage Vikings

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 6/1/23

It seems like it’s a matter of when, not if, the Minnesota Vikings lock up star receiver Justin Jefferson to a long-term contract extension.

And while the move seems like a no-brainer on Minnesota’s end, in a recent video analysis for The 33rd Team, former Detroit Lions head coach Marty Mornhinweg explained why an extension might just tie the Vikings’ hands as to what they can do with the rest of their roster.

“It looks as if the Vikings are going to have to pay Justin Jefferson as much, or maybe even more, than a heck of a quarterback in the National Football League,” Mornhinweg said.

“Is this a good thing? Or is this a bad thing? I’ll tell you the negative: It’ll put a knife right into the salary cap. You’re going to have to let some pretty good players go to get this thing done. It’s going to damage the core of your football team if you go about it that way.”

#Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson could become the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history with his next deal, per ESPN #NFL insider @JFowlerESPN:

“Jefferson is considered by many around the league as the very best receiver in the NFL,” Fowler said. “So,… pic.twitter.com/H41W4rvt4J
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 31, 2023

Playing under his rookie deal, Jefferson has a $2.39 million salary and just a $4.175 million cap hit in 2023. His next contract is expected to break the wide receiver market, much like the four-year, $72 million deal Christian Kirk signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022.

The standard going rate for top-tier receivers in today’s NFL is between $25 and $30 million annually. Jefferson, who broke the NFL record for most receiving yards over the first three seasons of a career, as well as Vikings records for single-season receptions and yards, is projected to reset the market for WRs.

Justin Jefferson is ready to run it back pic.twitter.com/bUqLHIOqEQ
— PFF Bet (@PFF_Bet) May 31, 2023

Miami’s Tyreek Hill is currently the highest-paid receiver in terms of average annual value ($30 million), with Las Vegas’ Davante Adams’ the highest-paid receiver in terms of contract value ($140 million).

“The only way that you pay Justin Jefferson as much or more than a quarterback is if you know that Justin Jefferson is the one player that you need on your football team to go win a Super Bowl; period,” Mornhinweg added.

If Jefferson does land an extension of $30 million a year or more, he would be making more than 16 of the 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

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