By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
Notification Show More
Latest News
No. 15 Michigan's stifles Nebraska, adjusts to Brice Williams in 49-46 rock fight
No. 15 Michigan’s stifles Nebraska, adjusts to Brice Williams in 49-46 rock fight
Game Analysis
Anthony Edwards' 'Superman' block caps off Timberwolves' 25-point rally vs. Thunder
Anthony Edwards’ ‘Superman’ block caps off Timberwolves’ 25-point rally vs. Thunder
Game Analysis
Who are the 10 biggest athletes currently playing in Los Angeles?
Who are the 10 biggest athletes currently playing in Los Angeles?
Game Analysis
Cowboys' 'goal' is to draft a QB as Trey Lance, Cooper Rush head for free agency
Cowboys’ ‘goal’ is to draft a QB as Trey Lance, Cooper Rush head for free agency
Game Analysis NFL
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid 2017 UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals highlights | FOX Soccer
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid 2017 UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals highlights | FOX Soccer
Game Analysis
Aa
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Reading: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson attends minicamp, takes contract talk in stride
Share
Aa
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Search
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
BigPaulSports > Blog > Game Analysis > Vikings WR Justin Jefferson attends minicamp, takes contract talk in stride
Game AnalysisNFL

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson attends minicamp, takes contract talk in stride

BigP
Last updated: 2023/06/14 at 2:04 PM
BigP Published June 14, 2023
Share
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson attends minicamp, takes contract talk in stride
SHARE

Justin Jefferson jogged onto the sun-soaked practice field, proceeding to jump in the air with a karate kick of his left leg as he approached his teammates.

Absent all spring on his own offseason training and business agenda, Jefferson’s salient presence was a natural highlight for the Minnesota Vikings as they convened for minicamp.

“You can just tell when he’s walking the halls in our building, just the energy and the juice that he brings,” coach Kevin O’Connell said Tuesday. “He was in great shape, moving around today like I expected him to be, mentally still really sharp.”

Jefferson, a unanimous All-Pro pick for 2022 who has two years remaining on his rookie contract, has entered the window for what will likely be an extraordinarily expensive extension. After all, his 4,825 yards and 324 receptions are the most in NFL history over a player’s first three seasons.

The Louisiana native has been working out in the Miami area during the voluntary portion of Minnesota’s offseason program, which had about 97% attendance on the roster. The two-day minicamp this week is mandatory, subjecting no-shows to fines.

“I had a lot of stuff going on. They didn’t really force me to come back too much, so it didn’t seem like I was missing too much, but they definitely wanted me back here,” Jefferson said.

He said he’s been busy with endorsement and marketing opportunities and casually dismissed a question from a reporter about whether his absence was related to the lack of a new contract. He also said he would return for training camp, regardless of the status of negotiations.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I don’t really see it as a cloud hanging over my head. At the end of the day, I’m just going to be myself, still going to be playing the same way,” Jefferson said. “The contract comes with the game, but my agent handles that. I don’t.”

Davante Adams (Raiders), Tyreek Hill (Dolphins), A.J. Brown (Eagles), Amari Cooper (Browns) and Stefon Diggs (Bills) are the top five earners in the league in terms of maximum contract value for wide receivers. The $140 million the Raiders committed to Adams is the largest overall figure at that position, though about $72 million of that comes from non-guaranteed base salaries for 2025 and 2026. Hill’s annual average of $30 million on a four-year contract with the Dolphins is currently the highest.

Vikings CB Patrick Peterson on WR Justin Jefferson: “Best in the game”

Vikings CB Patrick Peterson on WR Justin Jefferson: "Best in the game"

“As long as I’m going to keep on performing at my best ability on the field, being the same person that I am on and off the field, I’ll be good,” Jefferson said.

O’Connell has maintained regular contact with Jefferson since last season ended, even asking him for input about certain formation or route suggestions in the endless strategy session that is the offseason for an NFL coach.

Clearly, O’Connell wanted Jefferson with the team the entire time, particularly considering the departure of Adam Thielen and the leadership void that created in the wide receiver group. The Vikings drafted Jordan Addison in the first round, but the USC product has been held out of the full-team practices open to reporters because of an unspecified injury.

But there’s no apparent tension here, either.

“We’re quite a few installs in on formations and certain plays, and he was able to jump right back in there and really try to absorb some of the new things we’re doing as well for his role, which is a pretty special one in our offense,” O’Connell said.

Still missing, however, was defensive end Danielle Hunter, who has been seeking a new deal.

Hunter has 71 sacks for the Vikings since he was drafted in the third round out of LSU in 2015, the sixth most in the league during that span despite missing the entire 2020 season (herniated neck disc) and more than half of 2021 (torn pectoral muscle) with injuries.

He has had the five-year, $72 million extension he signed in 2018 adjusted twice. He’s on the book for a $4.9 million base salary this year and a salary cap hit of more than $13 million on a deal that’s scheduled to expire after the season. According to data compiled by Over The Cap, Hunter ranks 15th among edge rushers in the NFL in annual average contract value.

Skipping the offseason program means Hunter has forfeited a $100,000 workout bonus. He’s also subject to a fine of almost $50,000 from the Vikings for missing the mandatory two-day minicamp, per collective bargaining agreement guidelines.

“I’ve got all the respect in the world for Danielle as a player, a leader, a person on our team,” O’Connell said. “We feel very strongly about being solution-oriented with everything that comes about, and this example, just like a lot of the other ones that have come up, we’ll do the same, and we hope to have continued dialogue and have a really positive outcome.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience

National Football League

National Football League

Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson


NFL trending


National Football League

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more


in this topic

Sponsored Content

Juega en grande con cryptomonedas

You Might Also Like

No. 15 Michigan’s stifles Nebraska, adjusts to Brice Williams in 49-46 rock fight

Anthony Edwards’ ‘Superman’ block caps off Timberwolves’ 25-point rally vs. Thunder

Who are the 10 biggest athletes currently playing in Los Angeles?

Cowboys’ ‘goal’ is to draft a QB as Trey Lance, Cooper Rush head for free agency

TAGGED: nfl
BigP June 14, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print

Follow US

Find US on Social Medias
Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Youtube Subscribe
Telegram Follow
newsletter featurednewsletter featured

Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    Popular News
    'Devin Hester, you are ridiculous!': How one Super Bowl play turned Bears star into a Hall of Fame icon
    NFLSports News

    ‘Devin Hester, you are ridiculous!’: How one Super Bowl play turned Bears star into a Hall of Fame icon

    BigP BigP August 1, 2024
    Sources: Texans QB Stroud likely out again Sun.
    Big Ten eyes expansion amid Pac-12 instability
    Hype Trap Bet: Expect chaos in conference championship games
    Jones: Odds Cowboys sign OBJ in ’22 fading
    - Advertisement -
    Ad imageAd image

    Categories

    • Sports

    About US

    We offer information and tips on US Sports and evernts all over the world.
    Top Categories
    • Game Analysis
    • Free Picks
    • Services
    • Premium Content

    Subscribe US

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

      © Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.

      Removed from reading list

      Undo
      Welcome Back!

      Sign in to your account

      Lost your password?