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

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
Vikings

Vikings rally late to beat Browns in London

LONDON (HH) — Carson Wentz threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison with 25 seconds left, lifting the Minnesota Vikings over the Cleveland Browns 21-17 on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Vikings drove 80 yards on the winning possession after a game marked by turnovers and missed chances. Cleveland

Members Public

Latest

Ski Resorts

Lutsen, Granite Peak and Snowriver to open Friday

At Lutsen Mountains, skiers will be able to make top-to-bottom runs on Eagle Mountain for the first time during an opening weekend. The high-speed Raptor lift, which reaches the summit in about three minutes, will also begin operations.

Members Public
Howie: If Walz wins in 2026, this is what the map will look like
Gov. Tim Walz. Howie / HowieHanson.com
Howie

Howie: If Walz wins in 2026, this is what the map will look like

The question in 2026 isn’t just “Do you like Tim Walz?” It’s “Can he still make this particular map work one more time?” Right now, the answer is probably yes. But for the first time in his governorship, that “probably” comes with a real map of places where he can lose this thing.

Members Public
Obit: John Haugland
Obituaries

Obit: John Haugland

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of John Haugland, born on February 14, 1943 — a true Valentine’s baby. John spent most of his life in the Proctor area, building a life rooted in hard work, determination,and innovation. Hard work came naturally to him. At just 18, he

Members Public
Obit: Patricia McClellan
Obituaries

Obit: Patricia McClellan

Patricia Regina McClellan, 99 years old, passed peacefully on the 15th of November 2025 of natural causes. She was born in Hibbing, MN on the 16th of July 1926, to Freda and Gordon Ritz and, she was the 5th of 12 siblings. She was lifelong resident of Western Duluth and

Members Public