A.J. Jefferson signs tender with Minnesota Vikings
By Nam Huynh
Dec 23, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback A.J. Jefferson (24) smiles against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium. The Vikings won 23-6. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings announced that cornerback A.J. Jefferson signed his restricted free agent tender, putting him under contract for the 2013 season.
Jefferson is the team’s only restricted free agent. Minnesota placed the low tender on him, which means they will pay Jefferson $1.323 million for 2013.
Had Jefferson been given an offer from another team, the Vikings would have had the option to match. As a low tender, had Minnesota not chosen to match in the hypothetical scenario of a team offering him a contract, they would not have been awarded draft compensation.
The 25-year-old Jefferson came to Minnesota through a trade with Arizona just before the start of the regular season last summer. He ended up starting seven games, and played an unexpected larger role after cornerback Chris Cook broke his wrist in Week 8.
Jefferson earned a modest $540,000 salary last season.