Xavier Rhodes agrees to five-year extension with Vikings

Xavier Rhodes will agree to a five-year extension to keep him with the Minnesota Vikings. Rhodes had a breakout year in 2016 recording five interceptions last season.

Xavier Rhodes will be sticking around for a long time. The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a lucrative contract extension with their premier cornerback. Rhodes would have been an impending free agent following the 2017 season after the Vikings pickup up his fifth-year option.

The former 25th-overall pick in 2014 has worked out quite well for the purple and gold. The new contract will keep him in Minnesota through the 2022 season. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was the first to report the news:

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/891666816518430720

Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press also added that the extension is rumored to be around $70 million over the life of the deal. The deal figures to be a raise over the fifth-year option value of $8.026 million for 2017. Rhodes, a former Florida State product, made the Pro Bowl for the first time a year ago as the extension based on his recent play is warranted.

The Vikings also locked up Everson Griffen long term as the team has been busy as of late. Minnesota may not be done handing out extensions as Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, and Eric Kendrick are all possible candidates to receive a new deal. The team has drafted extremely well since the arrival of Mike Zimmer in 2014. Then again, that really isn’t a surprise given the fact that he is a Bill Parcells disciple.

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Rhodes helps out in the secondary for one of the best defenses in the NFL. Minnesota ranked third in the NFL against the pass in 2016. Rhodes, 27, also recorded 52 tackles and 11 pass deflections. After an 8-8 season in 2016, the Vikings will look to improve as their defense will remain in tact for another go around.