When Justin Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings last summer, the $35 million average annual value of his contract made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Since then, of course, he's dropped to fifth on that list, as Ja'Marr Chase ($40.25 million), Myles Garrett ($40 million), Danielle Hunter ($35.6 million), and Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million) have all surpassed him.
Nevertheless, the four-time All-Pro is making some colossal coin, and one would naturally assume that with that big-money contract kicking in this year, he'd be the highest-paid player on his own team for the 2025 season. But that's actually not the case, at least not in terms of a salary cap hit, which, just to clarify, is the number we'll be using for each player on this list, as that's the easiest way to do things.
Make no mistake about it; Jefferson will be No. 1 for the three years that follow this one, which we'll explain in just a moment. For now, however, he sits in fourth.
So, let's have a look at the three above and the one below him as we get into the five highest-paid Vikings in 2025.
5 highest-paid Minnesota Vikings players for the 2025 NFL season
1. Brian O'Neill - RT
$26,019,114
Taken by the Vikings in the second round of the 2018 draft with the 62nd overall pick, right tackle Brian O'Neill is set to play the 2025 campaign on the fourth season of the five-year, $92 million extension he signed just ahead of the 2021 season.
The two-time Pro Bowler's cap hit for the upcoming season comes in at $26,019,114, which consists of $17.4 million in base salary, a $4 million signing bonus, $4,019,114 in restructure proration, a $500,000 game bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus.
2. Jonathan Greenard - Edge
$22,300,000
Brought to Minnesota as a free agent in March 2024 to replace the departed Danielle Hunter, defensive end Jonathan Greenard is in the second season of a four-year, $76 million contract and will count $22.3 million against the cap in 2025.
Earning his first Pro Bowl selection a season ago after recording 59 total tackles, a dozen sacks, and 22 QB hits, Greenard will earn $18.39 million in base salary, $3.3 million as part of his signing bonus, a $510,000 game bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus.
3. T.J. Hockenson - TE
$16,649,118
One of the highest-paid players in the league at his position, tight end T.J. Hockenson, is set to play the second season of the four-year, $66 million extension he signed in August 2023.
The two-time Pro Bowler, who missed seven games a season ago while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, carries a 2025 cap hit of $16,649,618, which consists of $10.9 million in base salary, a $3.6 million signing bonus, $1.755 million in restructure proration, a $294,118 game bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus.
4. Justin Jefferson - WR
$15,167,600
At long last, we arrive at Jefferson and his 2025 cap hit of $15,167,600, which consists of $1.17 million in base salary, a $7,487,600 signing bonus, a $6 million prorated option bonus, and a $510,000 game bonus.
As mentioned above, Jefferson will undoubtedly take the top spot on this list in the years to come, as he currently holds cap hits of $38,987,600 in 2026, $43,487,600 in 2027, and $47,487,600.
Those numbers could obviously change with restructures and such, but that's where things stand for now.
5. Andrew Van Ginkel - Edge
$11,400,000
Rounding out the top five is linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who joined the Vikings as a free agent in March 2024, signing a two-year, $20 million contract, and recently signed a one-year extension worth up to $23 million that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2026 season.
Van Ginkel, who earned the first Pro Bowl selection of his career last season as well as Second-Team All-Pro honors, carries a 2025 cap hit of $11.4 million, which consists of $7.44 million in base salary, a $3.4 million signing bonus, a $510,000 game bonus, and a $50,000 workout bonus.