Justin Jefferson, the highest-paid non-quarterback within the NFL, chats completely to Sky Sports activities NFL about all issues Minnesota Vikings, his contract, the season forward and management…
The 25-year-old extensive receiver signed a mammoth four-year $140m contract extension in June, which incorporates $110m assured.
Jefferson had beforehand turned down a deal that might have paid him over $28m yearly the day earlier than the 2023 season began, along with his new wage of $35m per 12 months surpassing San Francisco’s Nick Bosa as NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
Minnesota host the San Francisco 49ers in Week Two, reside on Sky Sports activities NFL from 6pm Sunday, and chatting with Sky Sports activities NFL analyst and former Tremendous Bowl champion Ndamukong Suh from the Vikings coaching base, Jefferson revealed how his goals had been made.
“It feels great. The dreams, imagining it and to go through the contract talks, listening to my agent and hearing the conversations in those meetings, for it to finally happen is unreal,” Jefferson instructed Sky Sports activities.
“It is one thing you do not anticipate, and you do not actually know the way it goes down or how the whole lot is settled till you’re really in that dialog.
“The Vikings, my agent, the folks on my aspect, everybody did phenomenal in our contract talks. Nobody let the media inside, nobody went to social media and talked any type of manner in regards to the contract, which was nice.
“Getting it and being set with my family for a long period of time, that’s something we always dreamed about and wished for.
“To make it come true, it is undoubtedly a blessing.”
Since being chosen by the Vikings with the twenty second general decide within the 2020 draft, Jefferson has 392 receptions for five,899 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The 2022 Offensive Participant of the 12 months, Jefferson has averaged 98.3 receiving yards per recreation – essentially the most in NFL historical past for any profession span – and his common of 6.5 catches per recreation is the second-highest of any receiver in his first 4 seasons.
After main the NFL in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in 2022, Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season in 2023 regardless of lacking seven video games on account of accidents.
By way of his ambitions for the upcoming marketing campaign, avoiding harm is high of Jefferson’s listing, who has the arrogance to state he was on track for one of many biggest seasons ever within the sport till hamstring and chest accidents struck final 12 months.
“My goal right now is to stay healthy. With last year’s injury, being out for the majority of the season, that hindered my goals,” he stated.
“The way in which I began the season and the monitor I used to be going to was turning into one of many biggest seasons to ever occur.
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Sky Sports activities appears to be like at how Jefferson’s excellent catch in opposition to the Buffalo Payments compares to OBJ’s notorious seize in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys again in 2014
“So just staying healthy this year, being more of a leader, a vocal leader.
“I am the one everybody appears to be like at and has the goal on his again. I’ve to take that, maintain that and take the initiative.”
In terms of leadership, Jefferson feels his enormous contract can be an inspiration to teammates and players coming through the ranks.
At 25, he also reveals he has reached the stage of feeling like the main go-to figure in the Vikings squad.
“It simply goes to indicate the work I put in. As a child, going to school, and even nonetheless now placing in these ranges and additional work. These additional reps and catches after follow. That separates you from good and nice.
“I try to tell my guys in the locker room that. I’m surprisingly one of the older guys in the room now. We have a lot of young guys, guys that are kind of looking at everything I do.
“I am that function mannequin and the individual they’re . So each single likelihood I get, I attempt to train them in regards to the small issues, attempt to put together them for these contract talks when the time comes, and simply being a professional on the finish of the day.
“It’s all a learning phase. I’m still learning today. There are still things I need to learn and overcome. But as of now, I’m doing pretty good.
The 25-year-old says he’s now the individual within the locker room teammates wish to and is the function mannequin
“I try to get with the guys as much as possible outside of this building. When we’re in the building, it’s all football.
“Speaking about soccer, speaking about performs, speaking to coaches. It is tiring. So going out is sweet and I attempt to conversate with them as a lot as I can exterior of soccer. Discuss one thing completely different to our work day.
“Younger guys like to be to themselves, at home chilling. I try to stick with them, be around them and be that friend or brother that they can always talk to.”
Reside NFL
Sunday fifteenth September 5:00pm
On Sunday October 6, Jefferson and the Vikings will face the New York Jets in London on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The very best-paid non-quarterback within the league is trying ahead to returning…
“Very excited. I was so excited for the first time so now going back, I already know London. I know a couple of places.
“UK… we coming in scorching!”
Watch the San Francisco 49ers on the Minnesota Vikings in Week Two, reside on Sky Sports activities NFL from 6pm Sunday adopted by the Cincinnati Bengals on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at 9.25pm; Additionally stream with NOW.
Earlier than that, watch Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins face the Buffalo Payments in Thursday Night time Soccer, reside on Sky Sports activities NFL from 1.15am within the early hours of Friday morning; Additionally stream with NOW.
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and shall be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app – giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra reside sport this 12 months at no additional price. Stream The brand new EFL season, Take a look at cricket and extra high sport with NOW.
