Minnesota Vikings Players With Highest Career Earnings

Earlier this week, the fine folks at VikingzFanPage put together this list of the Minnesota Vikings players with the highest career earnings. I found the list interesting.

Minnesota Vikings With Highest Career Earnings

10. Byron Murphy Jr., CB

      $27 million

  9. Christian Darrisaw, OT

      $30 million

  8. Aaron Jones Sr., RB

      $41.6 million

  7. T.J. Hockenson, TE

      $50 million

  6. Justin Jefferson, WR

      $51.8 million

  5. Brian O’Neill, OT

      $61.2 million

  4. Ryan Kelly, C

      $67.9 million

  3. Jonathan Allen, DT

      $76.5 million

  2. Javon Hargrave, DT

      $83 million

  1. Harrison Smith, S

      $96.4 million

A few thoughts:

1. The financial makeup of an NFL team sure looks a lot different when a ton of money isn’t devoted to a quarterback.

2. A safety at #1? 

3. Three of the top four career earners have yet to take a snap for the Vikings. 

4. Unless Brian O’Neill can beat Father Time, only Byron Murphy Jr, Christian Darrisaw, T.J. Hockenson, and Justin Jefferson are long-term franchise cornerstones. 

5. It’s amazing how much money goes to the top quarterbacks. The going annual rate for a quarterback considered even remotely franchise-quality is about $60 million. That’s Brian O’Neill’s seven years and nearly Ryan Kelly’s nine years.