Breaking down Everson Griffen's contract extension with Vikings

Everson Griffen is now one of the higher-paid defensive ends in football. Here’s how the Vikings paid him in a deal that gives Griffen the chance to see another $58 million through the 2022 season.

The 29-year-old Griffen was already the team’s highest-paid defender before signing a four-year extension this week that will bump up his salary cap numbers for each of the next two seasons before the additional years begin, according to a summary of the contract obtained by the Star Tribune.

Griffen is guaranteed $18.8 million at signing, which will be paid out over the next two seasons. He receives more money on the front end with his cap numbers rising to $8.6 million this season and $11.6 million in 2018. Included in those figures is a $5 million roster bonus this year and a $6 million roster bonus next year. Griffen also got a $2 million signing bonus as part of the new deal.

It leaves the Vikings with more than $13 million in cap space for 2017.

The new contract makes Griffen the sixth-highest paid defensive end in football based on his $14.5 million per-year average, according to Spotrac.com, which tracks NFL contracts. However, the Vikings gain flexibility on the deal as his salaries increase.

The Vikings could technically part ways with a healthy Griffen after the 2018 season and not be on the hook for much. He has $34 million guaranteed for injury, which includes his $10.9 million base salary in 2019 and $4.3 million in 2020.

After the 2018 season, Griffen also has $500,000 tied up each season from 2019-2022 in per-game roster bonuses. The Pro Bowler has missed just one game in the past six seasons. He has 48 career sacks, including eight in 2016.

Griffen’s cap numbers for each year are below:

2017: $8.6M2018: $11.6M2019: $11.9M2020: $13.9M2021: $14.4M2022: $15.5M