Things are winding down a bit as we get closer to the annual NFL break (enjoy it while you still have it, everyone!). But we’ve still got plenty for you in this week’s offseason takeaways …
And this is why you do deals earlier in the offseason, rather than later. By now, you’ve gotten the news—Justin Jefferson is staying with the Minnesota Vikings, landing a well-deserved four-year, $140 million extension ($110 million guaranteed) that raises the bar not just for receivers, but all nonquarterbacks. And among the biggest winners are the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans, who already did deals for DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Nico Collins this offseason.
But before we get there, let’s dive in on what this means for Minnesota. First, it’s a good sign of the team taking advantage of the new window it’s in, with Kirk Cousins gone and the team having just drafted a quarterback in the first round. The Vikings are swallowing $28.5 million in dead cap for Cousins this year, and nearly $15 million for Danielle Hunter, but having J.J. McCarthy on a rookie deal gives Minnesota financial flexibility.
