(Minneapolis, MN) The Minnesota Vikings have extended star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, agreeing to a four-year $140 million dollar deal with $110 million fully guaranteed Monday morning. Jefferson now becomes the highest-paid wide receiver and the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Jefferson posted his reaction to his new deal via his Instagram this morning saying, “This is the deal I have been waiting for since I was a little kid…” “Something that once was a dream is now my reality. There are so many people that I can sit here and thank, but you all know who you are that helped me along the way. But we ain’t stopping here… There’s more to be done… SKOL!!!”.

This deal for Jefferson has been a long time coming. The Viking pass catcher initially declined a deal back in 2023 that would have netted him $28 million per season. After a campaign in which Jefferson dealt with injury and a quarterback carousel, there were rumors swirling around his future with the Vikings. However, Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said back in February that a potential trade package for Jefferson “never crossed his mind”. Now, Jefferson bags $35 million per season over four seasons in Minnesota, all in well-earned fashion

Since coming out of LSU in the 2020 NFL Draft, Justin Jefferson has established himself as not only one of the young faces of the NFL, but also as one of the best receivers in the game. Jefferson has racked up over 5,800 yards, just one yard short of the 5,900 mark, on 392 receptions, to go along with 30 touchdowns in his career. Now that the ink is not yet dry on his new deal, Jefferson is paid like one of the best. He and the Vikings have just reset the wide receiver market. So, what does this mean for others?

Here’s the deal: Justin Jefferson held the keys to the wide receiver market. Numerous star wide receivers from both the 2020 and 2021 NFL Draft classes have gotten their long-term extensions via their teams. This includes the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Devonta Smith, Michael Pittman, and many others who secured long-term deals earlier in the offseason. However, there have been a select few who have been patiently waiting for Jefferson to sign his new deal to understand the ballpark for themselves. These wide receivers include CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, Jefferson’s LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase, and Brandon Aiyuk

All four benefit immensely from the deal signed Monday morning. In particular, CeeDee Lamb, who in four years with the Dallas Cowboys, has put up over 5,000 yards and 395 receptions, to go along with 32 touchdowns. Lamb exploded last season, falling only 300 yards short of the 2,000-yard mark. Lamb is the closest to Jefferson out of the four receivers previously listed in terms of statistics. Nevertheless, they all have the same value that Jefferson has to their respective clubs, and should get their piece of the pie in the near future

The reset button has been pushed, and the Vikings have their best pass catcher of this generation tied to Minnesota long-term. The sight moves to the next big wide receiver to put pen to paper on a monstrous deal. Only time will tell who is next and what comes next for both club and player.