


The future for the NFL’s best receiver didn’t get any clearer on Saturday.
Justin Jefferson, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, did not agree to terms on a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday as the season opener looms on Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Schefter added the two sides will revisit things after the season.
Jefferson, a three-time Pro Bowler who was drafted No. 22 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, is coming off his best season yet.
He caught 128 passes for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns last year, emerging as one of the NFL’s elite pass-catchers and finishing fifth in MVP voting.
The Vikings’ wideout wasn’t the only receiver to fail to reach a contract extension this season, as the Buccaneers star Mike Evans also did not reach a long-term deal on Saturday.
Jefferson, 24, has posted at least 1,400 receiving yards every year since his rookie season and has become quarterback Kirk Cousins’ favorite target in a strong Minnesota offense.
However, in the Giants-Vikings Wild Card playoff matchup last season, Jefferson was limited by the Big Blue’s defense, catching only seven passes for 47 yards as the Giants won a surprising 31-24 game against the NFC North champion.

Giants’ top cornerback Adoree’ Jackson received credit for shutting down the league’s most explosive wideout.
“We had to take him out of the game and Adoree’ did his thing — he tracked him everywhere,” safety Xavier McKinney said after the game. “He’s a big piece to our defense and just having his presence out there helps us a lot. Go take away the best receiver — that’s why he’s here and why he makes big money.”
“I feel like I did all right,” a humble Jackson said. “The only thing that changed was I was getting back in the groove. I want to give credit to him. That’s a top-three [NFL] receiver.”