Skip to content
Sign In Subscribe
Vikings — Howie Sports

Vikings exercise 5th-year option on Justin Jefferson

,   and  Howie
1 min read
Justin Jefferson. Andy Kenutis / Vikings

By Craig Peters

EAGAN, Minn. — Vikings leadership has said multiple times they envision Justin Jefferson being with Minnesota for the long haul.

The team opted to exercise the fifth-year option on the 2020 first-round pick Tuesday, meaning he'll be under contract at least through the 2024 season.

The move buys additional time for the Vikings to work out a longer-term deal with the three-time Pro Bowler and 2022 First-Team All-Pro.

Jefferson has increased his production every season, going from 88 receptions for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie to 108 catches for 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021.

Last season, he led the NFL with 128 receptions, 1,809 yards and 106.4 receiving yards per game, setting Vikings single-season records for catches (topping Cris Carter) and receiving yards (topping Randy Moss).

Fifth-year option salaries are determined by the player's position, the spot from which they were drafted and performance benchmarks, including making two Pro Bowls during a player's first contract.

Comments

Related

Vikings waive WR Adam Thielen
Adam Thielen. Minnesota Vikings
Vikings

Vikings waive WR Adam Thielen

"I knew this was going to be my last season playing in the National Football League. Given that, the Vikings allowed me the opportunity to go compete elsewhere for the last few weeks of my career." -- Adam Thielen

Members Public
Sports

Howie: Even Sid would call this Vikings meltdown 'Unbelievable'

The Vikings wrote the book on heartbreak, but today’s stomach-turner didn’t even come with heartbreak. There was no drama. No tension. No what-if. Just a full-scale tap-out from a team that decided the fight wasn’t worth the bruises.

Members Public
Sports

Howie: Vikings burning it down

Every move is sold as “strategic.” Every mistake is “part of the process.” Every loss is “valuable learning.” It’s a corporate PowerPoint in shoulder pads. This isn’t football anymore. It’s asset management in cleats.

Members Public
Sports

Howie: Three wins, two QBs, one big mess

That’s Vikings football. Never boring, rarely logical, always exhausting. The highs, the lows, the quarterback merry-go-round, the running game that doesn’t exist, the offensive line held together with medical tape — it’s the same play, different actors.

Members Public

Latest

Sports

Hermantown girls riding a 7-game winning streak

The Hermantown girls basketball team has found its rhythm — and its confidence — heading into January. After navigating an early stretch that tested the Hawks against quality competition, Hermantown has posted seven straight victories and enters the week at 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the Lake Superior Conference. “After a tough

Members Public
Howie: This is what drift looks like
Downtown Duluth. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Howie: This is what drift looks like

We are attempting to run a full-service, high-touch, progressive city on a tax base that isn’t keeping up — and hasn’t been for a long time. We talk about growth like it’s just around the corner. We budget like it already arrived. And we tax like it never left.

Members Public