RUMOR: Xavier Rhodes’ new contract could be finalized within days
By Adam Patrick
After a Pro Bowl season in 2016, the Minnesota Vikings’ star cornerback is rumored to be on the cusp of becoming the team’s highest paid member of their defense.
Fans of the Minnesota Vikings have known how good of a cornerback Xavier Rhodes is for a few years now. But in 2016, the rest of the NFL got the opportunity to learn just how talented of a player Rhodes has become after he emerged as one of the league’s best at his position last year.
Following his 2016 season that ended with him playing in his first Pro Bowl, a bit of chatter has been going on this offseason about if and when (mostly when) the corner would receive a contract extension from the Vikings. According to VikeFans.com’s Geoff Nichols, an announcement from Minnesota regarding a Rhodes extension could happen any day now.
Rhodes is currently in the final year of his rookie contract after the Vikings exercised his fifth-year option last offseason. If Minnesota is unable to agree on an extension with the corner before the end of the year, he will become an unrestricted free-agent at the conclusion of the 2017 season.
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According to Spotrac, Rhodes could could command a new contract worth around $45 million over four years with an average salary per season of $11.2 million.
There is no question that he is worth that kind of money. Rhodes has evolved into one of the most talented players at his position in the NFL since the team drafted him back in 2013.
Having a head coach like Mike Zimmer, whose expertise is strong when it comes to defensive backs, has not hurt the young corner’s progression either.
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Luckily, it seems like Minnesota is getting closer to keeping Rhodes on their roster for at least a few more seasons and will be able to watch their star corner continue his evolution into greatness.