Justin Jefferson skipped out on some OTAs recently in what seems to be an annual tradition for veterans looking t🧸o send a message regarding their contract staꦯtus.
The Minnesota Vi♔kings got the message loud and clear. And as a result, Justin Jefferso🌠n is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL:
Justin Jefferson receives a massive extension from the Minnesota Vikings
has it as a four-year pact worth up to $140 million and includes $110 million guaranteed. It’s a whopper of a deal that resets the wide receiver market in a big way. And to think, Jefferson’s deal is only the latest in big receiver contracts handed out this offseason:
At this point, the only thing that comes to mind when seeing this collection of big-money, high-profile receiver extensions is how hefty the new deals that Keenan Allen and DJ Moore are going to get when their time comes. Those deals won’t be cheap. Nor should they be. But dang … there will be some splurging at the position if the Bears want to keep a good thing going in their receivers room.
On the other side of the ball, I see the Justin Jefferson extension and think: “I sure am glad the Chicago Bears continue to invest in cornerbacks.”
Let’s face it. Playing defense isn’t getting any easier. And with Jefferson staying around, there is a part of me that thinks the Bears can put up a fight with Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, and Terell Smith in the secondary. Don’t get it twisted. Jefferson is going to get his. The best ones always do. But just like there were times when Charles “Peanut” Tillman got the best of Calvin Johnson every once in a while in their battles, having fearless and talented cornerbacks going up against Justin Jefferson will give the Bears a puncher’s chance in that matchup.
For what it’s worth, the Bears don’t play a game against the Vikings for another 174 days. That should give this team plenty of time to create a game plan that attempts to slow down the star receiver.
