The Highest Paid Wide Receivers in NFL After Justin Jefferson's Vikings Extension

Justin Jefferson reset the WR market with his huge new deal.
Justin Jefferson catches a pass against the Detroit Lions
Justin Jefferson catches a pass against the Detroit Lions / Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
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On Monday June 3, Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings agreed to a record-breaking contract extension. The deal is worth $140 million over four years and comes with a whopping $110 million guaranteed, including over $88 million at signing. It makes Jefferson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history — which, of course, means he's now the highest-paid wideout among his current counterparts.

Jefferson has been the consensus best receiver in the league for the last two or three years, depending on who you ask. He only suited up in 10 games in 2023 due to injury but still managed a 1,000-yard season, recording 68 catches for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. He won Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, putting up a league-leading 128 catches for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns.

Overall, in four years, Jefferson has caught 392 passes for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns. In that span he's earned three All-Pro nominations and three Pro Bowl nods.

But Jefferson hasn't been paid like it. The three-time All-Pro has been dramatically outperforming his rookie deal, which paid him an average of $3.3 million over the life of the contract. Now his salary fully reflects his position in the hierarchy.

The average annual value of Jefferson's deal is $35 million, eclipsing A.J. Brown's deal with the Philadelphia Eagles as the highest in the NFL by $3 million. Here's how things shake out after those two big names.

NFL Highest Paid Wide Receivers

PLAYER/TEAM

AVERAGE ANNUAL VALUE

TOTAL VALUE

TOTAL GUARANTEED

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

$35 million

$140 million

$110 million

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

$32 million

$96 million

$84 million

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

$30 million

$120 million

$77 million

Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

$30 million

$120 million

$72.2 million

Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

$28.25 million

$84.75 million

$76 million

Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

$28 million

$140 million

$65.7 million

Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

$26.7 million

$80.1 million

$75 million

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

$25 million

$75 million

$70 million

Nico Collins, Houston Texans

$24.3 million

$72.3 million

$32.1 million

D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

$24 million

$72 million

$58.2 million

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

$23.9 million

$71.6 million

$58.2 million

Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

$23.3 million

$70 million

$46 million

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

$23.2 million

$69.6 million

$53.2 million

Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

$23 million

$92 million

$50 million

Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans

$22.5 million

$22.5 million

$22 million

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (pending signing of franchise tag)

$21.8 million

$21.8 million

$0

D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears

$20.6 million

$61.9 million

$41.6 million

Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

$20.5 million

$41 million

$29 million

Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears

$20 million

$80.1 million

$50 million

Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

$20 million

$100 million

$60 million

Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

$20 million

$60 million

$40 million

Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers

$18.4 million

$36.7 million

$27 million

Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars

$18 million

$72 million

$37 million

Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns

$17.5 million

$52.5 million

$41 million

Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

$15 million

$30 million

$12.6 million

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

$15 million

$60 million

$34.9 million

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

$13 million

$26 million

$11 million

Gabe Davis, Jacksonville Jaguars

$13 million

$39 million

$24 million

Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons

$13 million

$39 million

$26 million

Allen Lazard, New York Jets

$11 million

$44 million

$22 million

Undoubtedly someone will top Jefferson's AAV, as he topped Brown's and Brown topped Tyreek Hill's before him. Every market-setting deal of this ilk is destined to be overshadowed eventually. But Jefferson has earned his right to be atop the NFL receiver pyramid in both prestige and salary, no matter how long he might stay there.


Published
Liam McKeone
LIAM MCKEONE

Liam McKeone is a senior writer for the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in the industry as a content creator since 2017, and prior to joining SI in May 2024, McKeone worked for NBC Sports Boston and The Big Lead. In addition to his work as a writer, he has hosted the Press Pass Podcast covering sports media and The Big Stream covering pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University, he is always up for a good debate and enjoys loudly arguing about sports, rap music, books and video games. McKeone has been a member of the National Sports Media Association since 2020.