Should the Minnnesota Vikings Break the Bank for WR Justin Jefferson?

2025-26 NFL Computer Predictions and Rankings vikings style should minnnesota color break 011361
During eventful times, certain stories tend to go unnoticed despite deserving attention. In the case of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, his contract extension has been overlooked, even though he is one of the faces of the NFL.

While discussions continue about running back pay scales and Russell Wilson’s preseason workload, Jefferson remains without a contract extension, and it seems that no one is concerned about it. Recent reports suggest that Jefferson himself isn’t worried, but perhaps he should be.

Jefferson, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, still has two years left on his rookie contract. He is set to earn $2.4 million in the 2023 season, with an estimated $19.7 million in 2024 from his fifth-year option. While it may seem like there is still time for contract talks, Jefferson’s value to the Vikings cannot be understated. He is one of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the NFL and a key factor in the team’s success.

Wide receivers are prone to injuries, and although Jefferson’s injuries are not career-threatening, it raises concerns about his future earning potential. Many NFL teams have used administrative tactics to suppress a player’s value, and it is uncertain if the Vikings would do the same if something were to go wrong.

There could be various reasons why Jefferson hasn’t pushed for a contract extension yet. He may want to enter the market alongside fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase, engaging in a game of big-money negotiations. However, this depends on the Cincinnati Bengals’ ability to manage their finances and pay Chase accordingly.

Another possibility is that Jefferson is waiting for the upcoming free-agency cycle to assess the market. However, the 2024 free-agent class is more likely to witness a depression in wide receiver contracts, rather than a boom period like in 2022.

Perhaps the issue lies with the Vikings, as contracts are a two-way street. If this is the case, a few cryptic messages from Jefferson could signal his dissatisfaction and rally support from fans. However, the Vikings may struggle to afford Jefferson next year if he replicates his 2022 performance.

Hopefully, Jefferson is waiting for the right opportunity to make his case. As he is not only the face of the Vikings but also one of the faces of the NFL, his value is constantly increasing. It is crucial for the Vikings to address his contract situation and ensure he is compensated accordingly for his contributions to the team.

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CHRISTMAS NFL BETTING REPORT – Vikings Versus Saints

2025-26 NFL Computer Predictions and Rankings vikings versus saints report christmas betting 4:30 p.m. ET: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

This late afternoon Christmas Day showdown features a pair of NFC opponents looking to snap two-game losing skids. The Vikings (6-8 SU, 6-8 ATS) just fell to the Bears 33-27 last week, losing outright as 3-point home favorites. Minnesota is technically still alive for a playoff spot but would need to win their final two games and get some serious help in order to sneak in. Meanwhile, the Saints (10-4 SU 7-6-1 ATS) just lost to the Chiefs 32-29, pushing as 3-point home dogs. New Orleans has already clinched a playoff spot and is currently the 2-seed in the NFC. They could rise as high as the 1-seed or fall to the 3-seed depending on how the final two games play out. Minnesota is -28 in point differential this season. New Orleans is + 100.

This line opened with New Orleans listed as a 7.5-point home favorite. The public is all over the Saints, expecting a bounce-back cover against a struggling Vikings squad that just lost to the Bears at home. However, despite this lopsided support we’ve seen the line fall from Saints -7.5 to -7. This signals some sharp reverse line movement on the Vikings, with respected pro bettors grabbing the points, not laying them. Minnesota has heightened contrarian value as they are only receiving about one-third of bets in what will be an incredibly heavily bet game. The Vikings also have value as a road dog off a loss (56% ATS this season) and a dog with a line move in their favor (60% ATS). Despite both teams being profitable to the over this season (Vikings 9-4-1 and Saints 9-5), we’ve seen this total fall from 52 to 51. This signals some sharp money backing the under.

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Vikings May Be Looking To Pay Adam Thielen What He Is Worth in 2019

2025-26 NFL Computer Predictions and Rankings worth vikings thielen looking

If you ever wanted proof that timing matters, look no further than the current contract situation for Minnesota Vikings Adam Thielen. The undrafted wide receiver proved his value over the first four years of his career. So, the Vikings rewarded him, on the following season of 2016, with an appropriate contract extension: four years for $19.246 million.

He responded the subsequent season, in 2017, as every team hopes a player responds after getting a new contract extension—he played even better.

Then last season he took his game a step further by having his first 100+ reception year, his second with 1000+ yards and nine touchdowns (both career records). Talk about earning his keep, right?

It is easy to say that he was and he is an absolute bargain for the Vikings. After one good season in 2016, his contract was more than fair. But considering how his game has progressed the last two seasons despite all the quarterback changes, do the Vikings owe him? Clearly, he has outplayed his contract.

However, the team is under no obligation to renegotiate. Thielen’s contract was fair at the time. But what pushes the ‘new contract’ narrative forward for Thielen is the contract Stefon Diggs signed the year after Thielen signed his.

Following the 2017 season, and his incredible catch against the Saints in the playoffs, Diggs signed a five-year extension for $72 million. To be fair, the three seasons before his extension were better than Thielen’s. But they were also nothing special (200 total catches for 2472 yards and 15 touchdowns).

By his numbers, he appeared to be more deserving of the kind of deal Thielen got than Thielen was. But coming after his big catch against the Saints in the playoffs, his name was hot. It was the perfect time to shoot for the stars, and it worked.

The only problem now is that his deal makes it look like the Vikings are not doing right by Thielen.

It would be well within the Vikings rights to just wait and pay Thielen accordingly in his next extension. But then they run the risk of him becoming disillusioned with the team and feeling underappreciated—which could lead to a desire to switch teams.

But, according to some recent media reports, it doesn’t sound like the Vikings are going to wait. They have extended players contracts in the past before they were due for an extension and it looks like Thielen could be getting an extension this year.

“This team has a lot of really good things in place for it, and I know they want to take care of Adam, and I know they want Adam there and I know they want to reward Adam,” his agent, Blake Baratz said during a recent media appearance.

He went on to say that he doesn’t know what the Vikings are going to offer, but that he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ the Vikings will give Thielen the kind of raise he deserves. If the offer isn’t good, he could just hold out, right?

Yes, he could. But Baratz told Courtney Cronin from ESPN that isn’t the kind of thing his client would do; he’s not that type of person.

Of course, the willingness to extend a player everyone deems worthy and actually doing so are two different things. The Vikings could just be talking the talk right now; that doesn’t mean they will absolutely walk it later. However, history tells us that they most likely will.

So, then the next question will be whether Thielen’s intensity and production slacks off after he gets paid. It is not an uncommon phenomenon among professional athletes. But it is more likely that his numbers will go up in his second season with Kirk Cousins rather than down.

FILM STUDY: How Nick Foles Owned the Minnesota Vikings Defense

 

The Vikings Pull Off a Mystifying Win Over the Saints with a Last-Second 61-yard Touchdown Pass

2025-26 NFL Computer Predictions and Rankings vikings touchdown second saints pulled mystifying

Case Keenum connected with Stefon Diggs to win the game in “walk off” fashion.

In a prevent defense, with time running out – you simply keep the receiver in front of you, let the receiver catch the ball and wrap him up. There is no need to panic. This blunder is inexplicable IMHO.


Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/vikings-miracle-touchdown-2018-1

2017 Minnesota Vikings Extreme Offensive Line Makeover

2025-26 NFL Computer Predictions and Rankings vikings offensive minnesota makeover extreme

There’s one main reason the Minnesota Vikings are 10-3. Well, five…

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2017/11/21/16679482/minnesota-vikings-offensive-line