The Minnesota Vikings have signed rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Jefferson will receive a $7.1 million signing bonus as part of his guaranteed deal.
Jefferson, who played his collegiate football at LSU, was selected by the Vikings in the first round (22nd pick overall) of the NFL Draft back in April.
The 21-year-old arrived at LSU in 2017 but played only scarcely during his freshman season. The following year, Jefferson's role grew, as he caught 54 passes for 875 yards and six touchdowns. Jefferson then broke out with a monster junior campaign, hauling in 111 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 scores.
Due to his outstanding final season with the Tigers, Jefferson ascended on draft boards, with most considering him one of the best wideouts in the 2020 draft class. He ended up being the fourth wide receiver taken behind Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy, and CeeDee Lamb.
Jefferson certainly has some big shoes to fill in Minnesota. The Vikings traded away fellow receiver Stefon Diggs back in March, so Jefferson will be stepping into Diggs' role and will serve as the club's No. 2 wideout behind Adam Thielen.
The Vikings are coming off of a 2019-20 campaign in which they won 10 games and nabbed a Wild Card spot in the NFC playoffs. They then went on to upset the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round before falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.
Minnesota is aiming to make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in a decade.
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