The Minnesota Vikings signed defensive end Everson Griffen to a
four-year contract extension on Wednesday that will keep him with
the organization through the 2022 season.
The deal is worth $58 million and includes $34 million in
guarantees, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“Man, this means I’m a Vike for life,” the 29-year-old Griffen told
the team’s website. “I appreciate the coaching staff, the
ownership, the organization.”
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) runs in pursuit during a week 16 NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, December 27, 2015, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 49-17. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Griffen, a fourth-round pick out of USC in 2010, signed a
five-year, $42.5 million contract in 2014. He has two years
remaining on his current contract with base salaries of $6.9
million in 2017 and $8.4 million in 2018.
In his first seven seasons, Griffen owns 273 total tackles, 48
sacks, 71 tackles for loss, 281 quarterback hurries, five forced
fumbles, six fumble recoveries and one interception in 106
regular-season games. He made eight sacks last season.
Griffen has scored three career touchdowns — a 29-yard
interception return, a 43-yard blocked punt return and a 20-yard
fumble return.
Since becoming a full-time starter in 2014, Griffen started all 47
games he appeared in and recorded the fifth-most sacks in the NFL
with 30.5 during that span.
The 6-foot-3, 273-pound Griffen has been named to the Pro Bowl for
the past two seasons. He enters the 2017 season as the
second-longest tenured Viking behind fellow defensive end Brian
Robison, who joined the team in 2007.