Former Green Bay wide receiver Greg Jennings signed with the rival Vikings on Friday, and all it took to convince him to jump ship was a five-year contract worth up to $47.5 million.
Greg Jennings contract: Vikings WR could make $47.5 million
Greg Jennings may not have gotten the $11 million per season he wanted, but he will still be one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.
Jennings’ deal with Minnesota comes with $45 million in base salary and $18 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Jennings will receive a $500,000 bonus per Pro Bowl appearance, giving him the opportunity to earn an additional $2.5 million over the life of the deal. The base contract averages out to $9 million per season, which is slightly less than the $11 million per season Jennings reportedly sought.
Despite being less than what he may have wanted, the contract is still a great deal for the 29-year-old receiver, who is coming off career lows in receptions and yards. The average annual salary will put Jennings in a tie for the 10th-highest average for a wide receiver. According to Rapoport, Jennings will earn $27 million over the first three years of the deal.
After Miami signed free agent Mike Wallace, Jennings drew the most interest from Green Bay and Minnesota. According to a report from ESPN's Jason Wilde, Green Bay offered Jennings a deal worth $10 per season at one point, but it's unclear what the Packers' most recent offer was. Jennings said the final decision was between the Packers and Vikings, and "Minnesota stepped up to the plate."
Jennings said it's going to be a "pleasure" playing on a offense with Adrian Peterson, and already reached out to Minnesota fans via a video from the Vikings. The deal should provide Minnesota with a No. 1 wide receiver to replace Percy Harvin, who they traded to the Seahawks. Whether that turns out to be the right move remains to be seen, but Minnesota did save some money going with Jennings. The 24-year-old Harvin signed a six-year contract worth $67 million with $14.5 million guaranteed.
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