Minnesota Vikings star wideout Justin Jefferson was all smiles when speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon.
Why wouldn’t he be?
Kevin O’Connell, the same man that oversaw the Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams offense, is his new head coach. The weighted drama permeating throughout the organization within the previous regime is now gone. And the wide receiver market is on fire right now, as Jefferson enters the third year of his rookie contract.
The Miami Dolphins made Tyreek Hill the first-ever non-quarterback to receive a contract worth $30 million annually, and the Buffalo Bills extended Stefon Diggs two years early to the tune of four years and $104 million.
“I’m excited for them and excited for what I have in store. Just knowing some of the players that got signed again. Just knowing that I can have some more great years here with this team. So definitely will be looking into that and keeping sight on that,” said Jefferson, while flashing a smile.
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— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 12, 2022
A massive payday is imminent for Jefferson, whether it’s from the Vikings or another team desperately wanting to add one of the best receiving weapons in football to their arsenal.
It could be as early as next year for the negotiations to get underway between the Vikings and Jefferson’s representatives. Picking up the fifth-year option on his contract is obviously a no-brainer. But what happens if Jefferson refuses to wait and asks to receive his extension early?
“I ain’t been waiting since I got into the league. Everything has been straight off the jump,” said Jefferson. “It is what it is at this point. It’s part of it. You just got to do your own thing, follow your own path, follow your own process and when it comes, it comes.”
That day is coming, alright. The real question is if the Vikings will be ready for it when it does.