Justin Jefferson hoping to ‘break the bank’ with new contract

Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson didn’t have that eye-popping season he wanted last fall. Blame it on a significant hamstring strain and a quarterback carousel.

But that doesn’t mean the former LSU standout wants any less money. While he didn’t direct where the decimal point should go, he talked about a check with lots of numbers.

“I want to break the bank, and I want to be a part of an organization that wants me and to really give me what I deserve,” Jefferson said in an interview with Mad Dog Sports Radio.”I feel like eventually the Vikings will do what they need to do to have me in the building, but I don’t really know at this very moment. Only time will tell.”

There is speculation that Jefferson would like the Vikings — or a new team — to pay him more than any other non-quarterback in the NFL. Right now, 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback. After sitting out training camp in 2023, Bosa signed a five-year contract worth $170 million. That gave him an average salary of $34 million.

Bosa surpassed Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald on the list. Donald makes $31.6 million a year. He’s a free agent in 2025.

Jefferson certainly would love the Vikings to make him the richest receiver in the NFL. Tyreek Hill currently owns that distinction. When Hill switched from the Chiefs to the Dolphins, his contract blossomed to $28.25 million a year. Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt and Raiders receiver Davante Adams fill out the top five. Each makes roughly $28 million a season.

Jefferson is coming into his fourth and final season of his rookie contract. With no changes, he’ll earn $19.7 million in 2024. The Vikings and Jefferson’s representatives tried to get a deal done before the start of last season. But the contract never came to be.

“I feel like I have the right people in my circle to negotiate and do what’s right,” Jefferson said. “And I feel like this whole process of how we handle things and how we went accordingly with the season and the contract stuff, I feel like we did a great job with it.”

Statistically, the Vikings wideout had the worst season of his NFL career. He caught only 68 passes for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. But because of a hamstring injury, Jefferson made only nine starts. He was nowhere near his 2022 form when his 128 catches and 1,809 yards led the league.

Jefferson also would prefer the Vikings keep quarterback Kirk Cousins, who will be a free agent in March.