Well, it means someone’s probably going
The Minnesota Vikings have made their first significant move of the offseason, agreeing to terms on a two-year, $12.615 contract extension with safety Theo Jackson. While the focus has been on the potential fate of Camryn Bynum or Harrison Smith in the defensive backfield, this extension comes as a mild surprise.
Jackson has been with the Vikings since being signed off of the Tennessee Titans practice squad in 2022 following Lewis Cine breaking his leg in London. While he’s primarily been a core special teamer for his time in Minnesota, he’s gotten some time on defense as well, including security the game-clinching interception in the Vikings’ win over Seattle late this last season.
With the price point the Vikings have signed Jackson at, it seems that he’s going to be a bigger part of the defense going forward. It also seems that it could be the end of the line in Minnesota for Smith, Bynum, or both of them.
In Bynum’s case, he appears set to cash in after negotiations with the Vikings failed to produce a mutually desireable result, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic.
On Cam Bynum: Team obviously really likes him, didn’t want to lose him. His reps and Vikings negotiated extension up to season but couldn’t find common ground on number. Theo deal opens door to him starting next to Harrison Smith, if Smith returns. https://t.co/DrnNjUsQbk
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) March 6, 2025
Barring a late, last-minute deal between the Vikings and Bynum, he’ll hit free agency as one of the top players available at the safety position and capitalize on a solid run on his rookie contract with the Vikings.
For the third consecutive offseason, Smith appears to be contemplating the idea of retirement, ending his 13-season run with the Vikings. There seems to be a chance that he could take another pay decrease and come back for a fourteenth season, but that decision is going to have to come relatively soon as his $25 million salary for the 2026 season becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster on the third day of the new league year, which will come a week from Friday.
With Jackson signing this extension, the plan appears to be playing Josh Metellus more at the safety spot and teaming him with Jackson on the back end of the secondary. The team will almost certainly add someone at that spot in free agency, but if they weren’t willing to break the bank to retain Bynum’s services I wouldn’t expect them to make a huge splash at that spot.
What do you think of the Theo Jackson extension and what it means for the Vikings going forward, folks? Let us know in the comments!
