Justin Jefferson: 'I Want to Be the Best Player to Ever Do It' Amid Vikings Contract

Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, at least in terms of average annual salary, after signing a four-year, $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.

But his sights are set far higher than that, as he told reporters Tuesday:

"Just being the highest paid just comes with being a leader. I always said, I always preached it: The money never was a big thing for me. It was mostly just solidifying myself as the top receiver in the league."

"Of course, I want to be holding that gold jacket when my career is all over with. It's gonna happen, the contract talks are gonna happen when you're performing at this type of level. But just like I said plenty and plenty of times, there's more to it than just the money for me. I want to be the best player to ever do it. In order to do that, I've got to keep performing at my highest ability. With that, money is gonna be involved, but that wasn't my main concern."

Jefferson, 24, is already on the right track. He's already a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time Pro Bowler, with 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 scores across four seasons.

But to be the GOAT, at least at receiver, he's chasing the legendary Jerry Rice, who holds the NFL records for receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895) and receiving touchdowns (197).

At Jefferson's current pace, he's averaging 98 receptions, 1,474 receiving yards and 7.5 touchdowns per season. That puts him on pace to potentially exceed Rice's receptions and receiving yards in 12 seasons—feasible if he doesn't deal with major injuries and plays at an incredibly high level through his mid-30s—and his touchdowns in about 23 seasons (obviously much less feasible).

And even if he somehow, inexplicably, exceeds any those marks, detractors will note that he had one extra game per season than Rice, given the NFL's move to a 17-game slate.

This isn't to rain on Jefferson's parade—he's an otherworldly talent and one of the brightest young stars in the sport. But to be the best player to ever do it, he needs to first hit the heights of Rice, and nobody at the position has ever come close.