The Minnesota Vikings ponied up some major cash to lock up defensive end Everson Griffen for the next few years.
The Vikings inked Griffen to a four-year, $58 million contract extension that includes $34 million in guarantees, per a report from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The Vikings confirmed the signing shortly after is was reported.
“Man, this means I’m a Vike for life,” Griffen said, per the Vikings’ official website. “I appreciate the coaching staff, the ownership, the organization.”
Griffen, who signed a five-year, $42.5 million contract in 2014, posted 8.0 sacks in 2016. Griffen, 29, has notched 30.5 sacks in the past 3 seasons, since he became a full-time starter for the team.
The Vikings are hoping that their formidable line of Griffen, Brian Robison, Danielle Hunter and free agent signing Datone Jones can provide them one of the league’s most potent defensive fronts in the 2017 season.
Rapoport reported on Inside Training Camp Live on Wednesday that Minnesota is trying to get a new contract for cornerback Xavier Rhodes.