Going into 2026, the NFL salary cap sits at a touch beyond $300 million. Individual teams can surpass that basic allotment depending on carryover money (which is to say nothing of the cap shenanigans that borrow from future budgets). Teams can spend aggressively.
The end result is a Justin Jefferson mess for the Vikings’ new GM to clean up.
After some deliberation, the Minnesota Vikings opted to hire Nolan Teasley (as per the opinion from one online hack). All things considered, Mr. Teasley is inheriting a spiffy setup, a reality that goes from the roster talent all the way to the facilities. But while he should boast ample optimism, Teasley may nevertheless have a Jefferson issue to address before too long. After all, a receiver who is nowhere close to Jefferson is now making more money.
The Vikings’ New GM & The Justin Jefferson Solution
Atlanta’s Drake London is the next well-known receiver to land a beefy payday. Quite surprisingly, he’s now earning more than Mr. Jefferson.
Check out the update to hit the headlines last night. Adam Schefter with the word: “Falcons are signing WR Drake London to a four-year, $141 million extension worth up to $150 million, including $100 million guaranteed, per his agent Andrew Kessler. It makes London the third highest paid receiver in the league with the highest average per year in Falcons franchise history.”
London is a good receiver. Very good, even. Someday, he could become elite. But better than Justin Jefferson?
Per Over the Cap, these are the NFL’s highest-paid receivers per annual average:
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15M)
- Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25M)
- Drake London ($35.25M)
- Justin Jefferson ($35M)
- CeeDee Lamb ($34M)
Consider, as well, a basic statistical comparison between Atlanta’s WR1 and Minnesota’s WR1:
| Year | Justin Jefferson | Drake London |
| 2020 | 88 Catches, 1,400 Yards, 7 TDs | |
| 2021 | 108 Catches, 1,616 Yards, 10 TDs | |
| 2022 | 128 Catches, 1,809 Yards, 8 TDs | 72 Catches, 866 Yards, 4 TDs |
| 2023 | 68 Catches, 1,074 Yards, 5 TDs | 69 Catches, 905 Yards, 2 TDs |
| 2024 | 103 Catches, 1,533 Yards, 10 TDs | 100 Catches, 1,271 Yards, 9 TDs |
| 2025 | 84 Catches, 1,048 Yards, 2 TDs | 68 Catches, 919 Yards, 7 TDs |
Jefferson’s career has involved being sent to the Pro Bowl four times. He has been a first-team All Pro a pair of times and a second-team All Pro a pair of times. So, too, has he won Offensive Player of the Year and been a contender for MVP. The only seasons where he hasn’t received individual honors were when he battled injury (2023) and/or when his quarterbacks were taking turns in the infirmary (2023 & 2025).
London has none of these accolades, never even getting to the Pro Bowl.
Of course, there’s a key caveat: the best contracts are the ones that are about the future. Don’t pay a player for what he did; rather, pay a player for what he’s about to do.
If London goes nuclear in the coming seasons, then the contract will age fine, especially if the the cap keeps rising annually. The No. 8 selection from the 2022 NFL Draft is only 24 and boasts a great build at 6’4″ and 215 pounds, making him look like a young Mike Evans. Legitimately, he’s a very good player who is going to take a step with Kevin Stefanski calling the shots.
But then there’s the reality of stepping ahead of Justin Jefferson. Before too long, that’s an issue that’s going to need to get addressed in the Twin Cities.
Rob Brzezinski restructured the receiver’s deal to give the budget a touch more breathing room, but there will soon need to be a pay raise, likely next year. Just competent play at quarterback — let alone elite play, as far off as that feels –will involve Jefferson exploding on the stat sheet.
On June 16th, Jefferson will hit his 27th birthday.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.