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

2024-25 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.

WEEK 17 SMACKDOWN: VIKINGS Versus PACKERS

 

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CHRISTMAS NFL BETTING REPORT – Vikings Versus Saints

2024-25 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.

Do the 2020 Minnesota Vikings Have a Mike Zimmer Problem?

We never recommend releasing coaches that make the playoffs… But will Minnesota do that this year?

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

2024-25 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

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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

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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

Game Preview: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, October 15, 2017)

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Riding high after their huge victory against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, the Green Bay Packers are riding high as they enter brand-new U.S. Bank Stadium this Sunday, as 3.5-point favorites against the Minnesota Vikings according to NFL betting odds for Packers vs Vikings gameAnd that’s exactly why they could be in position for a big upset this weekend…

When we think of the Vikings, we first think of their defense, thanks to the organizational philosophy laid down by head coach Mike Zimmer. Minnesota enters Week 6 of the NFL season with the 11th-ranked defense in the NFL. They have star players at every level of the defense. Defensive end Everson Griffen is third in the NFL in sacks (six). Cornerback Xavier Rhodes has been one of the best in football this season. Outside linebacker Anthony Barr is a freakish athlete that does so many things for them.

But even with the in-and-out from Sam Bradford due to various injuries, this offense has been deceptively good as well. Minnesota actually averages more passing yards per game (357 — 5th most in the NFL) than Green Bay (336.6 — 11th most in the NFL). It’s even more disparate when you look at each team’s rushing attack: Minnesota averages 118.2 yards per game (#11 in the NFL) versus Green Bay’s 91.6 yards per game (22nd in the NFL). In place of promising rookie Dalvin Cook, who was lost to a season-ending injury to his ACL, Jerick McKinnon provided a spark to Minnesota’s offense, evidenced by his 146 total yards against the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs is in the midst of a breakout season of his own, sitting in 5th place in the NFL with 395 receiving yards. And the Vikings are just as likely to spread the ball around to the rest of their offense, as they are to force-feed their stars. On Monday evening, quarterback Case Keenum — playing in place of the injured Bradford — threw 16 of his 21 passing attempts to his running backs and tight ends.

Of course, the great equalizer in this entire game — or any game Green Bay plays in — is Aaron Rodgers. At some point, it just feels like we’re going to run out of superlatives to describe his level of play. Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time right now, but Rodgers is the best in the game as of today. His stats don’t tell the whole story (although his league-leading 13 touchdown passes certainly help), but the way he puts the Packers on his shoulders, week after week, is unlike anything we’re seeing in the league today (this side of New England, anyway).

Minnesota’s defense has held Rodgers to less than 220 passing yards in each of the last three games these two have played in Minnesota. Of course, the Packers are 2-1 in in those games, thanks to the balance provided by the Packers rushing attack.

Minnesota handled two very potent offense at home already: New Orleans in Week 1, and Tampa Bay in Week 3. They should be well aware of this, given that they play them twice a year, but if Green Bay is not careful, they could have their hands full.

But as of right now, Green Bay looks like they’re one of the two best teams in the NFC, alongside the Atlanta Falcons. While this game should be a really good matchup, the Vikings aren’t quite as dangerous as the Packers… or as Rodgers, anyway.

My Pick: Green Bay.